《When Two Love Rivals Fall In Love》


 Chapter 1 - Return After Four Years Apart

    **Warning before you start reading**


    This is my first story ever, that means maybe not everything his going to make sense or is perfectly fleshed out.


    Proceed at your own risk!


    In a crowded airport, an old man stood on the side, waiting and keeping an eye out for a young man to arrive. Looking at his watch, he estimated that the young master¡¯s plane should have landed by now. As he lifted his gaze again, a new mass of people flooded the waiting hall.


    Among the many men and women, one person stood out. The young man had a striking appearance with blond dyed hair, where the black of his roots shone through. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of tinted sunglasses, giving him an aura of arrogance.


    His gaze shifted from one place to another until he met the eyes of the old man waiting on the side. Suddenly, a bright smile appeared on his face, making him seem almost silly.


    ¡°Basil, there you are! I was looking for you the whole time. Couldn¡¯t you be a bit more conspicuous?¡± the young man complained while walking toward him.


    Giving the arriving young master a heartfelt smile, Basil greeted him. ¡°Young Master Cecil, you have grown. I almost could not recognize you. Let me take that suitcase for you.¡±


    As he said that, Basil stretched out his hand for the handle of the suitcase, but Cecil dodged him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. You are far too old and weak to carry this stuff. What if it breaks? You could never compensate me with your puny salary. Just show me the way to the car.¡±


    Shaking his head with a slight smile, Basil led Cecil to the car. ¡°You really haven¡¯t changed at all, young master.¡±


    Giving Basil a bewildered look, Cecil questioned him. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? I was away for four years. I¡¯ve changed completely!¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Should we head straight home?¡±


    Trotting behind Basil, Cecil¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. With a smile, he said, ¡°No, first drive me to Louis¡¯ company, then you can bring my luggage home.¡±


    In the front, where Cecil couldn¡¯t see, Basil¡¯s face turned sour. Had the young master still not forgotten about that man? Not even a great distance and four years apart seemed to have lessened his feelings.


    Basil sighed and nodded to indicate he understood. It looked like the Lady¡¯s efforts were all for nothing¡­


    Meanwhile, Cecil, unaware of Basil¡¯s thoughts, was practically skipping with happiness toward the car.


    ***


    ¡°Louis, I¡¯ve brought you the documents you wanted,¡± said a tall man entering a spacious office lit by an enormous window front.


    In front of the windows, a desk was placed, where a handsome man was sitting and giving the man who entered a charming smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Silas. I knew I could count on you.¡± Seemingly unconsciously, he opened the first few buttons of his collar and leaned back in his chair. ¡°Just what would I do without you.¡±


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    Silas glanced at this deliberate display of sexiness and laid down the documents on the desk. Just as he wanted to take back his hand, another was placed on top of his. Looking up, his eyes met Louis¡¯, who smiled sheepishly at him.


    ¡°Have you thought about my invitation for dinner? You have rejected me so many times before. Please pity a desperate man.¡±


    Louis looked at him with pleading eyes, and Silas hesitated upon seeing his gaze. Maybe it was time to give Louis a chance.


    Louis seemed to be an honest man who would be dedicated to his lover, but could he really be sure of that? Silas had to admit that the handsome man opposite him didn¡¯t leave him cold, but he did not want to be just some kind of plaything one would throw away after losing interest. He wanted someone he could love and build a family with, but Silas was unsure if Louis was the right one for that.


    Even if he did not look like someone who valued love highly and was often described as rather cold, deep down he longed for a place to return to, a place to call home.


    Just as he opened his mouth to agree, Silas was interrupted by the door swinging open with force. Shocked, he took back his hand immediately. Although he was not opposed to an office romance, being the center of gossip wasn¡¯t something he aimed for.


    At the same time, Louis also jumped up from his chair.


    Louis¡¯ brows furrowed and anger welled up in him upon noticing the intruder. He had been so close to making Silas let down his guard, but now it seemed to have been in vain.


    Angrily, he shouted, ¡°Who dares¡ª¡± but the words got stuck in his throat when he was suddenly hugged.


    For a short moment, time seemed to stand still.


    ¡°Oh, Louis, I missed you so much while I was abroad. And you, did you miss me too? I have so many stories I want to tell you, you won¡¯t believe what I experienced! Hehe, I¡¯m so happy to be back!¡± While firing a string of words towards Louis, Cecil continued to hug him hard. His eyes were dazzling as he looked at Louis with excitement.


    ¡°Is that you, Cecil?¡± Flabbergasted, Louis took a closer look at the man in his arms. Although Cecil had grown up and his facial features had deepened, his behavior seemed to have stayed the same as in his memory.


    Surprised, Louis forced out a laugh. ¡°When did you come back?¡±


    ¡°Today! I came to you as soon as I could.¡± With a strained smile, he answered, ¡°How nice.¡±


    The hug continued until Cecil heard someone clear his throat.


    While the two of them had an emotional reunion, Silas had considerately closed the door to avoid gossip, but it wasn¡¯t like him to be a third wheel, so he reminded the two that they were not alone. Although on the surface he seemed unbothered, deep down Silas felt uncomfortable. Just as he had made up his mind to accept the pursuit of the other, what seemed like a love rival appeared.


    Silas didn¡¯t want to think deeper about this feeling of discomfort, but remembering the look in the young man¡¯s eyes, he had to admit. Maybe what bothered him wasn¡¯t the love rival per se but his gaze.


    Noticing the other party, Cecil immediately let go of Louis and stood on the side while biting his lips.


    Giving Louis an apologetic look, he explained, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice we weren¡¯t alone.¡±


    Ignoring Cecil, Louis tried to explain the situation to Silas. ¡°Silas, that¡¯s Cecil, an old friend of mine.¡±


    Only when he heard Louis talk to the other person did Cecil lift his head. After inspecting the other from top to bottom and giving him a rather disinterested nod, he looked away.


    The intruder was almost as tall as Louis, which meant he was half a head taller than Cecil. Besides being too tall, he also wore ugly thick, black-rimmed glasses and had an expression that could freeze hell. All in all, not someone Cecil would categorize as a threat to his and Louis¡¯s relationship.


    While Cecil was scrutinizing Silas, Silas also took a look at the other. When he had smiled, he had seemed like a beautiful rose that would make its owner the happiest on earth, but as soon as the smile disappeared, one would notice its thorns that could prick you and leave a drop of blood behind. An appearance one could easily feel addicted to.


    And the look in his eyes was not one a friend would give another friend. Especially since this ¡®friend¡¯ didn¡¯t hide his love for Louis at all.


    Silas was skeptical. Why bother calling him a friend when he seemed so unhappy to be around him?


    Still, Silas stayed polite. ¡°Hello, it¡¯s nice to meet you. My name is Silas.¡±


    Cecil¡¯s response fell rather flat. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Noticing the stiff air in the room, Louis tried to ease the situation. Looking at Cecil, he asked, ¡°Why did you come unannounced?¡±


    Giving Louis a hurt look, he replied, ¡°Am I forbidden from coming here, or what?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Louis replied absentmindedly while thinking about how he could get rid of Cecil again.


    In a happy mood again, Cecil remembered his reason for visiting. ¡°Well, we haven¡¯t seen each other in four years and I have so much to tell you. So I thought about inviting you for dinner! I even reserved a place for us already.¡±


    The look Cecil gave Louis almost spelled ¡®praise me¡¯ and ¡®agree.¡¯


    Louis wanted to reject Cecil since he knew that although Silas hadn¡¯t agreed yet, he almost had him. If he let this opportunity go, there was no saying when the next would come.


    Just when he wanted to open his mouth, Louis got interrupted.


    ¡°You should agree,¡± Silas interrupted him from the side, ¡°You have no other appointments today anyway.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, of course,¡± Louis gritted his teeth.


    On the other hand, Cecil was confused by their exchange. ¡°Why the Duck does the CEO need permission from his employee to go to dinner?¡±


    ¡°Cecil, don¡¯t be rude!¡± Louis scolded him.


    Aggrieved, Cecil crossed his arms. He could not understand what was wrong with his words, and in reality,


    there was nothing wrong with his words, it was just Louis who had a guilty conscience.


    ¡°Well then, if you excuse me.¡± With this, Silas left the office without turning back.


    While walking, the only thought left in his mind was the picture of Cecil looking at Louis like he was the only one for him in this world that mattered, and the wish someone could look at himself in the same way.


    ¡ª-


    **Author¡¯s note**


    Thank you for reading the first chapter of my story. If you spot any mistakes or think there are areas for improvement, please let me know.


    Constructive criticism is always allowed!

 Chapter 2 - Love Rivals

    In a fancy restaurant, Louis and Cecil were sitting at a table by the window. The glass spanned from the top to the bottom of the wall, offering a breathtaking view over the whole city. The countless lights sparkled like stars in the sky. On the table, a single candle flickered, as if not to outshine the city¡¯s lights¡ªa truly romantic sight that someone had put countless thoughts into.


    But sadly, these sentiments weren¡¯t appreciated.


    While Cecil tried to engage Louis in conversation, telling him about the fun things he experienced abroad or how much he missed him, the responses remained lackluster. Even Cecil, who was usually a bit dull regarding the emotions of others, noticed that his beloved wasn¡¯t paying him any attention.


    Waving a hand in front of Louis¡¯ face, which was almost plastered against his phone, he said, ¡°Is something bothering you? Did I do something wrong?¡±


    Louis, who was waiting for time to pass, answered absentmindedly, ¡°No, no, I¡¯m just busy at work lately¡­¡±


    In fact, he was so distracted that he did not even notice Cecil turning quiet for the rest of the meal.


    After they left the restaurant, they made their way downstairs to the garage. Seeing that Louis had finally put away his phone, Cecil¡¯s mood improved considerably.


    ¡°Since we haven¡¯t seen each other in so long, how about we go out this coming weekend? It would be a perfect opportunity to relax since you are so busy at the company lately. For example, we could go to the movies¡ª¡±


    ¡°To the movies?¡± Louis laughed out loud. ¡°Aren¡¯t we a bit too old for something like that?¡± Walking past him towards the car, Louis continued, ¡°It¡¯s nice to see that you have kept your childish side, but I think it¡¯s time to grow up.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right,¡± Cecil answered with a forced smile. But wasn¡¯t it Louis who promised Cecil he would go there with him right before he went abroad?


    From the car, Louis shouted, ¡°Cecil, if you don¡¯t come, I¡¯ll leave you here.¡± Seeing the serious expression on Louis¡¯ face, Cecil knew he meant what he said.


    Coming up with an excuse for Louis, Cecil nervously ran towards the car. Well, isn¡¯t it only natural for him to forget about the promise since it had been so long?


    ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯m coming!¡±


    ***


    ¡°Thanks for driving me.¡± Cecil looked inside the driver¡¯s window and asked Louis sheepishly, ¡°Is it okay if I continue to drop by?¡±


    Thinking about how Cecil¡¯s visits could impact his time with Silas, Louis wanted to refuse. But he knew that simply refusing him would be useless. ¡°Hah, okay.¡±


    ¡°Good. See you soon, Louis.¡±


    Watching the car drive away, Cecil performed a dance of happiness on the spot once the car was out of sight. Today was the best day ever!


    Cecil skipped towards the entrance. What could possibly ruin that?


    Once he entered his house, he knew what could ruin his happy mood.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Everything in the house he had grown up in had stayed the same as in his memory; not even a piece of furniture was moved. So as soon as Cecil stepped into the living room, he felt familiar all over.


    This feeling of familiarity only increased when he saw his mother and older brother sitting on the couch. Both had their arms crossed before their chests and looked at him with foul expressions.


    ¡°Well, well, look who is here. The ungrateful kid who would rather run to a man on the first day he arrived from abroad than return home.¡±


    Cyrus gave Cecil a scornful look. ¡°It seems like not even four years are enough to lessen your obsession with that son of a dog.¡±


    Giving his brother a gleeful look, he said with a smile, ¡°Our love is stronger than the obstacles you lay in our way. Even if you send me abroad for another four years, it won¡¯t stop our love!¡±


    ¡°If someone heard you talk, they would think that you were a pair of lovers.¡± Cyrus stopped and then gave Cecil a pitiful look. ¡°Oh, wait. He never even said that he loved you. Just taking your gifts and love without giving back. You are really stupid, Cecil.¡±


    ¡°Cyrus, you¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Hearing the strong voice of their mother, both sons flinched.


    Not wanting to stop, Cecil continued, ¡°But mother, he¡ª¡±


    ¡°I said it¡¯s enough, Cecil.¡±


    With a hand, she massaged her temples. ¡°I¡¯m really disappointed in your performance today. I thought you had grown up in the past few years, but it seems I was wrong. I really don¡¯t know where I went wrong in your upbringing. Your brother was never like that.¡±


    Hearing his mother¡¯s words, bitterness welled up inside Cecil. Upon hearing the last part, Cecil¡¯s bitterness turned into anger, and with the last word, he exploded.


    ¡°Maybe if you had visited me at least once in the past four years or had at least allowed me to return home, I wouldn¡¯t have run to the only person who was always there for me!¡± Seeing the look of shock on their faces, Cecil felt strangely satisfied. Turning around to walk up the stairs, he felt like he had indeed grown up over the years because if it had been him from four years ago, he would have never been able to voice his opinion out loud to his brother and mother.


    In the living room, a silence filled the room. Suddenly, Mrs. Althan sighed. ¡°I guess he did grow up a bit¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, loud steps from the staircase could be heard, and a second later, Cecil¡¯s head with his blond hair popped up. ¡°And Cyrus¡ª¡± Cecil gave his brother a furious look, ¡°Louis is not a son of a dog!¡±


    After these words fell, Cecil ran back up to his room feeling proud.


    In the living room, on the other hand, a loud ¡°Duck!¡± could be heard, and Cyrus¡¯ angry voice sounded. ¡°He has not changed at all!¡±


    ***


    The next day, Cecil went to Louis¡¯ company in high spirits. It felt so good to know that he could come and see Louis whenever he wanted, with them only separated by a journey of a few minutes and not by a few hours.


    While taking the elevator to the floor where Louis¡¯ company was located, Cecil checked in the elevator mirror how he looked. Noticing the silly grin on his face, he pulled it down with his two index fingers and left them there for a few seconds to prevent the corners of his mouth from rising again suddenly.


    When the ¡®ding¡¯ sounded, Cecil hurriedly stopped his foolish actions and looked around to see if somebody had seen him. But no one was in sight, which may be contributed to the fact that it was rather late already.


    Without delaying any further, Cecil walked towards the office only to be greeted by a half-open door and the sound of two people talking.


    ¡°Silas, why are you so cold to me? Didn¡¯t I already explain it to you? Cecil is just a friend to me. There is nothing between us. Please stop being so cold, okay? Let¡¯s reschedule our dinner, please?¡±


    It was silent for a while until a cold voice answered with a swift, ¡°We¡¯ll see when I have time.¡±


    The conversation in the office continued, but the next words did not enter Cecil¡¯s ears. All he could perceive at the moment was a high-pitched ringing sound that drowned everything else.


    ***


    After Silas closed the door to Louis¡¯s office, he was suddenly grabbed and pressed against the wall. Feeling a hot body pressing against him, Silas became flustered. When was the last time another human being was so close to him? A sudden warm breath appeared against his throat, and he tensed up unconsciously. But when he had to look down to see the other¡¯s face, his excitement calmed down and was replaced by amusement. Even the intended scary look on the other¡¯s face evoked in him rather a feeling of cuteness.


    Cecil, on the other hand, felt proud of himself. Thinking his move had intimidated the other so much that he dared not move, he felt like the winner in their match of scariness. See, even a scary face doesn¡¯t help you, Silas!


    If he had known Silas¡¯s true emotions, maybe Cecil would have hidden in a corner and refused to show himself ever again. But Silas was a gentleman and didn¡¯t want to destroy the other¡¯s self-esteem, so he stayed quiet and waited for Cecil to finish whatever he was doing.


    ¡°Silas, don¡¯t think I will give up on Louis. I will fight and win his love.¡±


    Lifting his brow, Silas guessed what this was all about. ¡°You heard us?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    For a short moment, Silas contemplated telling Cecil the truth¡ªtelling him that he had already kind of lost interest in Louis after seeing what real love or rather real obsession could look like.


    When it came to love, Silas was like a snail that would retreat inside its shell even at the slightest movement of the wind. So when he compared Louis and Cecil¡¯s love, he realized that only such a heated love could truly make him feel at ease. What he needed was someone who was dedicated, who would give his all to reassure him and provide him with a safe space he would feel comfortable letting go. Like Cecil.


    But looking at the shorter man in front of him, who was sadly completely bewitched by Louis, Silas could only sigh with pity.


    So he chose to opt for the second best thing¡ªkeeping Cecil close to amuse himself.


    ¡°And what will you do if I also don¡¯t give up?¡± Silas gave Cecil a provocative look.


    ¡°Then of course we will be love rivals! And the one who gets Louis wins!¡±


    Love rivals? Silas was dumbfounded. This little cutie sure knew how to surprise him.

 Chapter 3 - Flowers For A Heart

    The following days, Cecil demonstrated his vision of how to win Louis¡¯s heart. Visiting almost daily, bringing delicious meals or sending gifts, Cecil tried his best. It was only a pity that some people take it as a matter of course to be showered with attention.


    Although Louis was surprised by the increase in frequency at which he received gifts or got meals, it was nothing new for him. Over the past four years, Cecil had done the same¡ªminus the almost daily visits. Since Cecil knew how taxing it was to lead a company, he never requested much of Louis¡¯s attention, so he had no problem with Cecil dropping by.


    But that also meant that Cecil got no special response from Louis regarding his pursuit.


    Since Louis¡¯s reactions were not as Cecil imagined and he still always watched Silas like a hawk, Cecil decided it was time to step up the game. The only problem was that he was at his wit¡¯s end when it came to pursuing someone.


    Laying in his bed, Cecil sighed. He pondered what else he could do to get Louis¡¯s attention when he heard a ¡®ding.¡¯


    Groping around his bed excitedly, he searched for his phone. Unlocking the phone with the expectation of seeing a message from Louis, Cecil¡¯s enthusiasm was drenched quickly.


    ¡°Only an ad for flowers¡­¡± He threw the phone back on the bed and covered his eyes with his arm. Why was it so hard to win somebody¡¯s love?


    Wait. ¡®Flowers¡¯?


    Cecil sat up in bed. That¡¯s it! What was more romantic than sending your beloved flowers? Expressing your love with a beautifully arranged bouquet that told the receiver everything they needed to know about your deepest feelings for them.


    That was perfect.


    Throwing himself back into the pillows, Cecil began to giggle with happiness. Tomorrow, he would bring Louis the most beautiful flowers he had ever seen.


    ¡°Hehe,¡± Cecil felt like he could explode with happiness.


    ¡°Duck! Why the hawk are you laughing like a maniac, Cecil! It gives me the creeps.¡±


    Hearing the voice of his brother through the door, Cecil did not explode because of happiness but because of anger.


    ***


    With a beautiful bouquet in his hand, he made his way to Louis¡¯s office the next day. But when he arrived, there was no one in the office.


    Looking at the layout of the floor, Cecil confirmed that he was on the right floor of the building. But just to be sure, he walked back to the elevator to confirm the floor number.


    It wouldn¡¯t be the first time that he came to the wrong floor. This building had a total of thirty floors, each belonging to a different company, and a beautiful rooftop garden. When he was younger, he often visited this building with his father, who came here to visit a business partner. One time, he accidentally went to the rooftop and fell in love with the garden there.


    He liked it so much that his father decided to buy the whole building and gift it to him, so he could come and go whenever he wanted. This ownership also made it easier to visit Louis.


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    Cecil giggled at this thought. He had really made a wise choice back then when he recommended this building for Louis to use as the company ground. Not only could he give the other a less expensive rent, but he could also come and go as he wanted.


    Once he confirmed that he was indeed on the right floor, Cecil went back to the office door in a depressed mood. His head hung down and the bouquet was left hanging from his hand, almost touching the ground due to its size. Anyone who saw that scene would think he was crying.


    This was also the exact thought of Silas when he stumbled across the scene.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are crying?¡± Silas walked over and lifted Cecil¡¯s chin up. Ignoring the fierce eyes of the other, he only let go when he confirmed that the other¡¯s eyes were dry.


    ¡°No! I¡¯m not, and why the duck would you even care?¡± Cecil said while he wiped his chin.


    Leaning onto the wall next to Cecil, Silas responded nonchalantly, ¡°I can¡¯t let my love rival be seen crying outside the boss¡¯s office now, can I?¡±


    After he finished his words, he took a look at the flowers in Cecil¡¯s hand. They were truly beautiful. A gorgeous arrangement of only the best colors and flowers, adorned with greenery. The full roses showed the intentions of the giver, making even a bystander like him understand the love Cecil held for Louis in his heart.


    But from his observations in the past few days, Louis seemed completely indifferent towards Cecil, taking everything that was given for granted and either deliberately or not ignoring the other¡¯s feelings. A true scumbag.


    Every passing day he watched Cecil¡¯s desperate pursuit and Louis leading him on, he disliked Louis a little bit more.


    How could the man be so indifferent to this cutie? If it were him, he would agree immediately. It really was a pity that they were incompatible.


    ¡°So, do you know where Louis is or not?¡±


    The annoyed voice of Cecil brought Silas back to the present.


    ¡°Oh. Yes, I know where he is. He is in a meeting and won¡¯t be out for a while.¡±


    Cecil¡¯s shoulders plummeted. At the moment, he looked like an abandoned puppy on the roadside, which no one could ignore.


    ¡°Want to wait in my office?¡± Seeing Cecil¡¯s intention to disagree, Silas added, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want the whole office to see you standing at the boss¡¯s office and gossip about it.¡±


    Although the idea of sitting in the same space as his love rival made Cecil¡¯s forehead furrow, the thought of being the reason why people talked bad about Louis was worse, so he agreed.


    ¡°Here, put the flowers inside this vase.¡±


    Silas¡¯s office turned out to be just as cold as himself. There were no family pictures or pictures of anything, nor any decorations.


    Bored, since there was nothing that could give clues about Silas¡¯s weaknesses, Cecil responded absentmindedly, while sitting down, ¡°Unnecessary, they won¡¯t be here for long anyway.¡±


    Still, seeing Silas insisting, he took the vase and placed the bouquet on the desk. Noticing the long look Silas was giving the bouquet, Cecil thought he was impressed and maybe worried about his great idea and the effect it would have on Louis. This made Cecil¡¯s lips raise and thus his mood also got better.


    ¡°What?¡± he said proudly. ¡°Jealous of my great idea?¡±


    But instead of responding, Silas just shook his head and turned his eyes away.


    Cecil shrugged his shoulders. What a strange man.


    Then they stopped talking and the office became silent. Feeling that the silence between them was deafening, Cecil racked his brains to find a topic to talk about. But it was useless; this office was so monotone that even the talkative Cecil felt his mind go blank. Only the bouquet gave this space an air of life.


    Silas must have felt similarly as he was still observing the flowers intensely.


    Yes, that¡¯s right, the bouquet! Smirking, Cecil opened his mouth to talk about the topic that came to his mind.


    ¡°Are you impressed by my creativity to give presents to Louis? I also sent him various gifts and nutritious meals, in order for him to stay strong and continue his excellent performance. What do you feel inferior?¡±


    Cecil gave Silas a look of contempt.


    Lifting his eyes up from the flowers, Silas gave Cecil a look and smiled.


    ¡°Hah, it¡¯s true that I was quite impressed by your gifts, but in my opinion, what can compare to a home-cooked meal that you prepared yourself with all your love? I think homemade meals are better than restaurant visits.¡±


    Distracted by the smile that had appeared on Silas¡¯s face, it took Cecil a while to react to Silas¡¯s words. ¡°You think home-cooked meals are better?¡±


    A strange expression appeared on Cecil¡¯s face. Forget cooking; as far as he could remember, he had not even taken a step into the kitchen yet.


    The look on Cecil¡¯s face was so amusing that it took Silas a lot of self-control not to laugh out loud. ¡°Or could it be that this young master doesn¡¯t know how to cook?¡±


    Sensing that Silas was looking down on him, he tried to turn the tables. ¡°Pah, you are talking all high and mighty but who knows if you even know how to cook yourself!¡±


    ¡°Coincidentally, I do know how to cook.¡±


    ¡°Prove it!¡± Internally, Cecil felt proud of this comeback. How could Silas prove his cooking skills in an office? And if they ever had a cooking showdown, Cecil could just learn it by then¡ª


    ¡°Luckily, I still haven¡¯t eaten my lunch yet.¡± Without waiting for Cecil¡¯s response, Silas took out a lunch box and opened it.


    The moment the delicious scent of curry filled the air, Cecil¡¯s face went black. The food inside the lunch box looked very appetizing and not greasy at all. It was almost on the same level as the food prepared by their personal chef at home.


    But¡ªjust because it looks good doesn¡¯t mean it also tastes good, right?


    Seeing Cecil¡¯s unconvinced expression, Silas knew he had almost achieved his goal. ¡°Do you want to give it a taste?¡±


    Staring at Silas with a complicated expression on his face, Cecil thought very seriously about the possibility of whether this was a ploy to poison him in order to get him out of the way or if this delicious meal could really be eaten.

 Chapter 4 - A Taste Of Reality

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you believe I did something to the meal?¡±


    Cecil¡¯s thoughts were very easy to read as they were always written all over his face.


    Just as Cecil was going to deny Silas¡¯ words, the other continued, ¡°I mean, how was I supposed to know that you would come by today and we would meet?¡±


    Opposite him, Cecil nodded alongside Silas¡¯ explanation.


    ¡°Although it was very predictable that you would come today.¡±


    Cecil¡¯s face turned sour again.


    ¡°But that would be silly, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course,¡± Cecil answered through gritted teeth.


    ¡°So then, why don¡¯t you try?¡±


    Silas pushed the box in front of him and handed him cutlery.


    Cecil took the cutlery, filled it with food, closed his eyes, and put it into his mouth. If one didn¡¯t know that he was only trying food, one would think he had to eat the worst smelling medicine in the world.


    Suddenly a moan escaped his mouth and he shoveled more food in. His hands only slowed down when more than half of the box had been emptied.


    Noticing the almost empty box, Cecil¡¯s face became dripping red. Clearing his throat and turning his head away, he apologized, ¡°Sorry, I forgot to eat breakfast today because I was too excited to pick up the flowers. And then I missed breakfast while waiting for Louis¡ªI¡¯ll go buy you a new one.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. There will be a lunch later with a business client, so I wouldn¡¯t have been able to eat it anyway. If you truly want to pay me back then finish the meal and don¡¯t let it go to waste.¡±


    Lowering his red head, Cecil continued to eat his meal.


    Looking at Cecil, the young master who should never go hungry, eating his lunch with such a hurry one could think he had starved for days, Silas felt angry.


    If Louis didn¡¯t want Cecil¡¯s love, why did he not say anything?


    ¡°Cecil.¡±


    The other glanced up confused.


    ¡°Maybe you should give up on Louis.¡±


    A look of shock appeared on Cecil¡¯s delicate face.


    ¡°Ha! You are only saying this to get rid of me as your love rival and have Louis all to yourself. But I won¡¯t fall for this!¡±


    Furrowing his brows, Silas objected to Cecil¡¯s accusation.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying this because I want Louis all to myself, it¡¯s quite the opposite actually. I¡¯m just wondering¡­ Don¡¯t you feel tired chasing after somebody who obviously doesn¡¯t like you and is just using you for your money?¡±


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Cecil¡¯s eyes dilated and he shook his head in denial. Trying to cover up his hurt feelings, he laughed.


    ¡°Ha, you know what? Right now you sound exactly like my family.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they have already seen through Louis¡¯ true intentions and want to protect your feelings from getting hurt any longer.¡±


    Cecil choked and tears welled up in his eyes.


    ¡°No, what you are saying is not true. Louis was always there for me and he would never not like me¡ª¡±


    Seeing Cecil¡¯s vehement denial, Silas felt confused.


    Was it normal for someone in love to be so against the truth or was there something more to the story?


    ¡°Okay, I was wrong, Cecil. Please calm down¡ª¡±


    But his words were interrupted by a knock on the door and its subsequent opening.


    ¡°Silas, are you ready to leave¡ª¡±


    ¡°Louis! There you are!¡±


    Cecil sprang up from his seat.


    ¡°I was waiting for a long time for you, Louis,¡± he took the bouquet without lifting his head and meeting the other¡¯s eyes, ¡°here. I bought them for you. But now I have to go. Bye.¡±


    ¡°What¡ª,¡± Louis was confused.


    But after he finished his words, Cecil practically ran out of the office, giving no one time to react.


    Silas clenched his hand. Maybe he had been too rash without understanding the situation and hurt Cecil¡¯s feelings.


    He truly regretted saying these words.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Louis asked, while standing at the door with the bouquet in his hands. ¡°I mean, he has always been unpredictable, but this is on another level, even for him.¡±


    Beside him, Silas shook his head indicating that he did not know.


    ¡°Are you finished with your meeting?¡± Silas tried to change the topic.


    ¡°Yes, I was just coming to you if you were ready to leave to meet with the client. But now¡ª,¡± he shook the bouquet, ¡°I have to take care of these first.¡±


    Silas took a look at the flowers and asked, ¡°What are you going to do with these?¡±


    Sighing, Louis shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe take it apart and give it to the employees? It¡¯s far too big to put on the desk.¡±


    Without a second thought, Silas opened his mouth.


    ¡°Give it to me, I¡¯ll take care of it and you can go get ready for the lunch.¡±


    Louis thanked Silas with a big smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Silas. I really can always rely on you.¡±


    Pushing his glasses up his nose, Silas simply nodded.


    But instead of returning to his office, Louis took a step closer towards Silas. Taking the other¡¯s hand, he said, ¡°To be honest, lately you seemed rather distant, so I was wondering if I have done something wrong.¡±


    Shaking off Louis¡¯ hand, it took Silas all his self-control to not punch the man in his annoying face.


    This man really had no shame.


    On one hand he was flirting with him and on the other he accepted all kinds of gifts from another man who clearly had feelings for him.


    But since he still had to work with this shameless mosquito, he restrained himself from saying this.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you, Mr. Nott. I¡¯m not interested in developing any kind of relationship besides boss and employee. So please stop touching me unnecessarily in the future.¡±


    With this, he took the bouquet out of Louis¡¯ hands and closed his office door in front of the other¡¯s nose.


    Thinking about Cecil¡¯s dirty fingertips, Silas felt his heart hurt.


    The young master plucked flowers by himself to gift to his loved one, only for the other to not want them at all.


    Bitterness welled up in him.


    Why do some people have everything others could ever want and don¡¯t even cherish it?


    Shaking his head, he sighed.


    Getting worked up about it also wouldn¡¯t change a thing.


    So he turned around and cleaned up the almost empty lunch box.


    ***


    ¡®Louis is only using you for your money.¡¯ - my ape!


    Walking up to a fancy hotel, Cecil felt like all his worries had been for nothing.


    Just when he had been plagued by Silas¡¯ words and was asking himself if there could be a pinch of truth in his words, Louis¡¯ message arrived.


    He had invited him to a fancy hotel and told him to dress well - if this didn¡¯t scream date then Cecil did not know what else would.


    So he had put on his best suit and made sure everything about his appearance was perfect while humming his favorite tune, even now he was still humming out of joy.


    In his good mood, Cecil even decided to forgive Silas for his slander.


    Silas himself did not look like someone who had much experience in love matters, so it was inevitable to make mistakes.


    Maybe he could even help the other and teach him a few tricks.


    Soon he arrived at the hotel and was stunned by the many cars that were parked in front of it. It almost seemed like a big party was taking place.


    Cecil really hoped to not catch sight of any acquaintances, since they would only remind him of his father and then his good mood would be gone.


    A bit lost in thought, Cecil made his way to the entrance where a waiter stood, helping the guests find their way.


    After he greeted the waiter and stated who invited him, Cecil was led to a fancy door on the ground floor.


    Suddenly a bad feeling overcame Cecil as the waiter opened the door and the light from inside dazzled him.


    Soon a room, or rather giant banquet hall, appeared in his sight with many people inside.


    Cecil was frozen in place.


    ¡°Ah, Cecil Althan! There you are!¡± a voice shouted, attracting the attention of everyone inside the banquet hall.


    Mechanically, Cecil turned his head towards the origin of the voice.


    There stood Louis, waving at him with a bright smile.


    A murmur broke out in the hall, as the crowd was wondering if it was really an Althan who was attending this party.


    But Cecil ignored the whispering around him¡ªno, he could not even hear it, as only Silas¡¯ voice kept ringing in his head.


    ¡°Louis is only using you for your money.¡±


    Maybe he was the one who had no clue about love after all, and not Silas.

 Chapter 5 - An Unexpected Fall

    When Silas saw Cecil, he immediately whispered to Louis, ¡°Why is Cecil here?¡±


    While keeping his eyes on Cecil, Louis replied, ¡°If it¡¯s known that we have a close relationship with the Althan family, then maybe we can avoid a disaster like with yesterday¡¯s investor.¡±


    Louis¡¯ face darkened as he recalled yesterday¡¯s lunch.


    When they arrived at the restaurant to meet the investor, they received a phone call saying the investor was stuck in traffic and would be late.


    After waiting an hour with no sign of the investor, Silas decided to check the news for any traffic updates¡ªonly to find there were none and there never had been.


    Given their need for funding for a new project, they had no choice but to wait. When the investor finally arrived, negotiations did not go well, and the investor chose not to invest.


    Normally, Louis would have been able to move past such events, as it wasn¡¯t the first time something like this happened. Their company was a small player, insignificant compared to the big players.


    But this time, he couldn¡¯t simply forget.


    What Silas didn¡¯t know was that after the investor left, Louis had also gone to find the bathroom. As he walked through the hallways, he overheard the investor¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Ha, it seems like every dog can open a company these days.¡±


    Laughter followed.


    ¡°Instead of investing in this small company, I¡¯m better off investing in the new project of the Althan Corporation.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I even forgot about this meeting today¡ª¡±


    Louis gritted his teeth upon hearing these words.


    Why was the Althan family always everywhere he went? Why?


    He clenched his fist.


    If they liked the Althan family so much, why not give everything to them?


    A cold glint flashed in Louis¡¯ eyes. Cecil probably wouldn¡¯t mind doing him a little favor.


    Even the memory of yesterday was enough to ignite the anger in his chest again.


    Beside him, Silas looked at him with a hint of disgust.


    ¡°So you asked him to come?¡±


    ¡°Mmm? Oh, Cecil. Well, no. If I had mentioned it was a banquet, he probably would have found an excuse to avoid it, since he doesn¡¯t like them.¡±


    Louis shrugged nonchalantly.


    ¡°So I only mentioned that we would meet up here.¡±


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Silas widened his eyes in disbelief.


    Why was Louis so cruel to Cecil?


    No, cruel wasn¡¯t quite the right word. It seemed more like he harbored a deep-seated disdain for the other and took pleasure in seeing Cecil uncomfortable in the spotlight.


    Shaking his head, Silas turned away from Louis and walked toward Cecil, who was surrounded by people trying to talk to him.


    ¡°Hey, where are you going, Silas? We need to talk to potential partners right now.¡± Louis tried to grab his hand, but Silas evaded him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me right now,¡± Silas said without even looking at him, leaving Louis standing alone in the crowded hall.


    Meanwhile, Cecil was starting to panic. He felt overwhelmed by the crowd that all seemed to want a piece of him.


    It reminded him too much of the rainy day almost ten years ago when everyone wore black and surrounded him, asking what would happen to the company now.


    As more and more memories resurfaced, Cecil¡¯s breathing became heavier and heavier. A hand grabbed him and led him out of this horror.


    Just like ten years ago, when a small hand had taken his and led him away, freeing him from the nightmares his father¡¯s death had left upon him.


    A name wanted to escape his lips, but through his blurry eyes, he noticed that the back of this person did not belong to the one he had in mind.


    ¡°Silas?¡±


    Upon hearing his name, the other looked back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know a less crowded place.¡±


    Quietly, Cecil let Silas lead him away from the lights into the darkness. But strangely, the dark wasn¡¯t so frightening anymore.


    They stopped only when they arrived at an outdoor pool, surrounded by greenery and softly illuminated by lanterns.


    Both of them were breathing heavily after their escape from the banquet hall.


    Suddenly, they locked eyes, and seeing each other¡¯s flushed faces, they burst out laughing.


    ¡°I¡¯ve done many things and there are many rumors about me, but even I never fled a party,¡± Cecil laughed happily.


    ¡°Well, I also never thought I¡¯d leave future business opportunities behind.¡±


    Cecil lowered his head at Silas¡¯ words.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean it in a bad way. And if anything, I should apologize.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Cecil was puzzled by Silas¡¯ words.


    ¡°Yesterday, I hurt your feelings and was too harsh. Even though I know nothing about your relationship with Louis, I still tried to interfere and gave you unsolicited advice. For that, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Silas said with a serious expression.


    He pursed his lips, contemplating whether or not to continue his words.


    But thinking about the schadenfreude in Louis¡¯ eyes today, he decided to offer Cecil advice once more.


    ¡°But I won¡¯t apologize for my words. I stand by what I said and truly believe he is not worth your attention.¡±


    After he finished speaking, Silas took a careful look at Cecil to see what he was thinking.


    But Cecil¡¯s head was lowered, obscuring his expression with his hair.


    ¡°Cecil?¡±


    Hearing Silas¡¯ inquiry, Cecil was unsure of what to respond.


    His mind was a mess, and so were his feelings.


    On one hand, he felt deeply hurt by today¡¯s events. But on the other¡ªdidn¡¯t everybody make mistakes?


    Why couldn¡¯t he forgive Louis for this one mistake?


    And it had been almost ten years since he had told Louis that he hated attending such events. His family wasn¡¯t part of high society anymore, so¡­ wasn¡¯t it natural not to know that he hadn¡¯t attended any events in the past years?


    Maybe he had a good explanation. And don¡¯t forget, Cecil, it was only one mistake.


    ¡°It was only one mistake,¡± Cecil echoed his thoughts.


    ¡°I can¡¯t simply forget ten years¡¯ worth of feelings for one mistake. That wouldn¡¯t be true love, right?¡± He smiled.


    But in Silas¡¯ eyes, it looked more like a grimace than a smile.


    Without saying a word, he shook his head. If Cecil had really loved Louis for ten years, then a few simple words wouldn¡¯t resolve his feelings in one day.


    He would need to show him Louis¡¯ true colors slowly. Only then would this cute guy be free of his hopeless love.


    Actually, Silas was stunned by his own insistence. Normally, he wouldn¡¯t care about another person once they had rejected his good intentions.


    Everybody would notice their mistakes on their own once they hit the wall.


    Yet, strangely, he did not want to see Cecil¡¯s beautiful face covered in tears, deprived of its former happiness.


    But why Cecil was different, he didn¡¯t want to think about too deeply, as he had a feeling it would only lead to disappointment.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Silas guessed even Cecil was surprised he didn¡¯t continue digging deeper, given his shocked expression.


    What kind of image did he have in this cutie¡¯s mind?


    ¡°How about we forget about this for now and grab a bite to eat? The food here looked really delicious.¡±


    Cecil breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad Silas didn¡¯t continue pressing him for answers he didn¡¯t have.


    But he became dissatisfied again after hearing the other¡¯s last sentence. Just what did Silas think of him? That he was a little kid who could be coaxed with delicious food?


    ¡°Then what are you still standing around for? Go, lead the way.¡±


    Cecil looked away in embarrassment when he heard Silas laugh.


    ¡°Your wish is my command, Young Master.¡±


    With Silas leading the way, the two of them made their way along the edge of the pool.


    Suddenly, a drunken man appeared in front of them and stumbled. Unable to stabilize himself, he instinctively tried to grab the nearest thing, which unfortunately turned out to be Silas.


    Instead of grabbing him, the drunken man pushed Silas, making him fall backward.


    Noticing the direction of his fall, Silas instinctively tried to grab the closest thing to stop himself, but sadly, the closest thing was Cecil.


    He wasn¡¯t strong enough to stop their plunge into the cool pool water.


    The only thought swirling in his head before he hit the water was:


    ¡®I bet Silas didn¡¯t want to be the only one wet, so he took me with him.¡¯

 Chapter 6 - Drenched In Reality

    A second later, they were enveloped in the water.


    The whole experience might not have been so unpleasant if it hadn¡¯t been for the hand gripping Cecil¡¯s wrist hard enough to make him think it would snap. Annoyed, he tried to swim up, but the person holding onto him dragged him down.


    Did Silas want to continue swimming? Then he could do it on his own and stop dragging him down! If he really wanted to swim so badly, he wouldn¡¯t mind inviting the other to his personal pool, with swimwear, of course.


    Determined to leave the pool, Cecil gathered all his strength and swam towards the surface. Once up, he reached for the edge of the pool with his free hand. The moment he broke the surface, another hand grabbed his clothes and made its way up his body. Bewildered, Cecil opened his mouth wide. He didn¡¯t know Silas actually had an interest in his body!


    A second later, the wandering hand stopped at his neck and hugged it. Although, strangling was a better-fitting word, considering how hard Silas was squeezing his neck. Soon both of Silas¡¯s arms were around his neck, and their bodies touched each other completely, leaving no room for even a piece of paper between them. In his whole life, Cecil had never been so close to another human being. It felt strange, and his body stiffened uncomfortably.


    Lowering his head, Cecil could see Silas¡¯s back and his soaked-through shirt.


    Huh? A shirt? Where had the suit jacket gone?


    But soon Cecil forgot about the suit jacket because his eyes were attracted by Silas¡¯s well-built back. The soaked fabric had become see-through, revealing the other¡¯s back muscles and small waist. Cecil became distracted for a second.


    Silas had a really thin waist. Perfect to hug with one arm or grab with both hands on certain occasions¡­ Cecil looked away as if he¡¯d been burned. Heat began to rise in his body, and he scolded himself for having improper thoughts.


    But he had to take another look.


    On the second glance, he noticed Silas¡¯s unnatural stiffness and shaking he had previously attributed to the cold.


    ¡°Silas? Silas! Are you okay?¡± But Cecil got no response from the other. Only the tightening of his arms around Cecil¡¯s neck told him Silas was still alive.


    ¡°Ugh.¡± Cecil groaned in pain as the arms got tighter. If this continued, maybe his neck would snap from Silas¡¯s strength! But it was impossible for Cecil to lift himself and Silas out of the water in this position, so he could only call for help.


    Soon people from inside the hall came running to help, and chaos broke loose.


    Many people gathered around the pool, whispering and screaming. The staff had trouble reaching them. Suddenly, unrest broke out in the crowd, and people were pushed to the side as a man made his way through.


    As soon as Louis saw the scene before him, he panicked.


    ¡°Silas!"


    "You-,¡± he pointed at a man near the edge, ¡°grab one, and I¡¯ll take the other.¡± After giving Louis a nod of understanding, the two of them helped Cecil and Silas out of the water.


    Louis peeled Silas off of Cecil¡¯s neck and shot him an icy gaze. But Cecil didn¡¯t notice that; his whole focus was on the unconscious Silas, who was held in Louis¡¯s arms.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the staff to disperse the crowd and give them towels. Walking over to Louis, Cecil looked concerned at Silas. ¡°Is he okay?¡±


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°He would be if you hadn¡¯t dragged him into the water! I didn¡¯t¡ª¡±


    ¡°Duck! He could have drowned! What the Hawk were you thinking? You could have killed him!¡±


    Cecil wanted to explain the situation, but Louis was too furious to listen. ¡°I have tolerated your willfulness for too long. What in the Hawk were you thinking by pulling a man who can¡¯t swim into the water!¡±


    Standing at the edge of the pool with wet clothes and a lowered head, Cecil endured the wrongful scolding and the prying gazes of the staff. ¡°I just want to know if he¡¯s alright¡ª¡±


    Without even listening to what Cecil wanted to say, Louis snapped at him. ¡°Stop it, Cecil. This isn¡¯t about you! I think it¡¯s best if you go home for now and don¡¯t appear in front of me for a while.¡±


    Shaking his head irritably and turning away, Louis left to follow the ambulance to the hospital. Watching Louis¡¯s retreating back, Cecil just stood there, hoping the other man would turn around and give him one last glance. But with every step he took further away, something died a bit more inside Cecil.


    It was already late at night when Cecil returned home. The lights in the living room were turned off, and the house was painted in silence. Everything seemed frozen, just like his heart.


    ¡°Well, who do we have here?¡± Suddenly, the lights in the living room turned on, revealing his brother, Cyrus, sitting on the couch with his arms and legs crossed, throwing Cecil a scornful look.


    ¡°Why are you sneaking into the house without turning on the lights like a thief? Don¡¯t tell me you want to¡ª¡± Cyrus stopped upon noticing Cecil¡¯s pitiful appearance.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to see that dog? Why the Hawk are you wet to the bone? Come here, let¡¯s get you some dry clothes.¡± Jumping up from the sofa, he rushed to get a dry towel and wrapped up his brother.


    Then they sat down together. Cyrus didn¡¯t want to ask what happened when he saw Cecil¡¯s sad look. There was only one person who could make Cecil so miserable and still get away with it unscathed. Without anything better to say, he just patted his younger brother¡¯s back.


    ¡°Hah, you idiot, you should really forget that dog.¡± After those words left his mouth, Cyrus wanted to beat himself. Cecil was already down, and he was only making it worse. What if his baby brother exploded again? The saying ¡°men in love are blind¡± is really true.


    But the feared reaction never came. ¡°Maybe you are right.¡± Only half of Cecil¡¯s face was left free from the towel, so the words only reached Cyrus¡¯s ears as a whisper.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Cecil looked up. Seeing the dumbfounded look on his older brother¡¯s face, he suddenly wanted to laugh out loud. ¡°I think maybe you are right. I want to stop loving him but¡ª¡± Cecil averted his gaze and looked unfocused into nothing. ¡°But how? How do I stop loving someone?¡±


    Right now, it was hard to describe what he was feeling. Everything was messed up, tangled together, and he was unable to clear up this mess called feelings. Today he had seen that Louis¡¯s focus was on Silas and not on him. The look of angst when Louis looked at Silas¡¯s unconscious body. Those fear-filled eyes and¡ªthe look of disgust, almost hate, when he looked at Cecil were too different. Cecil didn¡¯t know when Louis had started to hate him instead of smile at him.


    Yes, smile. When was the last time the other party had given him a heartfelt smile? Maybe when he left? But feelings were hard to control. Just because he knew he had lost didn¡¯t mean his feelings of over ten years were so easy to disappear. The sound of his brother¡¯s voice brought Cecil back to the present.


    ¡°Talk to him and ask him straight out if he could consider being with you. I think getting rejected face to face helps make it more real and gives you final closure.¡±


    Cecil thought about his brother¡¯s advice and nodded. Just when he wanted to get up to his room to change and maybe sleep, if his mind allowed it, his brother continued. ¡°And¡ª¡± Cyrus paused. ¡°Maybe ask him why he had no trouble accepting your gifts but never gave anything in return.¡±


    Cecil wanted to refute his brother. ¡®Louis was just too busy and forgot,¡¯ or ¡®These few gifts don¡¯t matter,¡¯ ¡®He didn¡¯t have enough money to give gifts,¡¯ but seeing the serious look on his brother¡¯s face, he remained silent.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll ask him.¡± Suddenly feeling energetic, he stood up. ¡°Right, tomorrow I¡¯ll go see him and won¡¯t leave till he answers my questions!¡±


    On the couch, Cyrus nodded. ¡°That¡¯s my brother! Finally, you grew some brains! But tomorrow is Sunday, so you better go on Monday, you idiot.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    Outraged, Cecil turned around to hit his brother. But the other had already jumped over the back of the couch and run away. ¡°Bull! Just wait, I¡¯ll get you!¡± he shouted, running after Cyrus.


    Suddenly, the house was filled with shouts and running in the middle of the night.


    That was until a door opened. The light of the room illuminated the hallway where Cecil and Cyrus were wrestling on the ground.


    ¡°Although I know not everybody needs it, some do need their beauty sleep.¡±


    Stiffly, they turned their heads towards their mother, who gave them a shallow smile.


    Never in their lives had they run faster towards their rooms.

 Chapter 7 - Truths and Heartbreak

    On Monday, Cecil woke up feeling surprisingly well-rested. After the scramble with his brother and the pool incident, he was so tired he practically fell into bed and slept like a rock.


    Cecil stared at the ceiling.


    Today was the day to confront the truth. No more tricking himself or making excuses for Louis; he would be honest with himself.


    Even if it meant losing the only person who had supported him for the past ten years.


    But that was okay. He was already twenty-two and old enough to stand on his own. Right?


    Cecil closed his eyes and took a deep breath.


    It didn¡¯t matter if he was ready or not¡ªhe had to be.


    ***


    Standing in front of the familiar office door didn¡¯t bring him the usual excitement.


    No, this time it only made Cecil feel anxious and almost nauseous.


    He lifted his fist to knock on the door but then let it fall again.


    What was he doing dithering in front of Louis¡¯s office? Cecil scolded himself.


    Just do it like always.


    And so he waltzed into the office as usual, but the scene inside shocked him despite being mentally prepared.


    Silas stood with his back to Cecil, his hand held by Louis and pressed against the other¡¯s chest. Louis¡¯s other hand was on Silas¡¯s hip. Almost like a hug.


    Surprised by the sight, Cecil forgot what he wanted to say.


    At the same time, Silas used Louis¡¯s surprise to break free from his grip and backed away from Louis.


    Louis, on the other hand, angry at the interruption and at Cecil¡¯s audacity to appear so soon after the party incident, almost shouted at him. Only Silas¡¯s presence reminded him not to lose control.


    After taking a deep breath, Louis asked Cecil through gritted teeth, ¡°What the hell are you doing here? Didn¡¯t I tell you not to come to me for a while?¡±


    Ignoring the ache in his heart, Cecil lifted his chin. ¡°Since when do I have to do what you tell me?¡±


    Louis threw Cecil a furious look, but Cecil did not back down and stared back.


    The air was filled with tension, and Silas felt out of place.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Cecil had a different air about him than usual. Not as obedient. Maybe he finally had a moment of clarity. Silas felt it was only right for him to leave the office and make room for the two of them to talk.


    He could wait and settle his score with Mr. X later.


    Silas rubbed his wrist. That bull had gripped his wrist so hard it still hurt even now.


    Just as he was taking a step back to retreat to the door, the other two people in the room noticed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave!¡± Two voices ordered at the same time.


    Cecil and Louis looked at each other, irritated, and then each turned to stare at Silas.


    On one hand, Louis wanted Silas to stay, to show that he had nothing to hide from Cecil and that his relationship with Silas was not out of the ordinary.


    Cecil, on the other hand, wanted Silas to stay so he could witness him giving up and know that he had won.


    Silas looked at the two in bewilderment and stopped moving. He crossed his arms in front of his chest to signal that he would stay.


    Once they stopped staring at Silas, silence enveloped the office once again.


    Just as Cecil was gathering his courage to ask Louis if he wanted to give dating him a try, Louis beat him to it.


    ¡°So? Why are you here to bother me again? Haven¡¯t you made enough of a mess over the weekend already?¡±


    ¡°Me, make a mess? I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop.¡± Louis sighed and shook his head. Seeing Cecil deny what happened, Louis just couldn¡¯t stand it. ¡°You never stand up for your wrongdoings and always hide behind your family.¡± The feeling of anger had disappeared, leaving only disappointment.


    How could a person be so childish and still not know when to stand up for their wrongdoings?


    When he looked at Cecil¡¯s red, angry face and then at Silas, who had been pushed into the water and had every right to be angry, standing in the corner calmly without even a hint of displeasure against Cecil, Louis knew he was tired of it.


    ¡°Do you know that Silas could sue you for trying to drown him? But instead of apologizing, you have the nerve to show up again and even ignore him.¡±


    He was tired of it all. He was really tired of dealing with Cecil¡¯s countless unannounced visits and the other¡¯s childishness.


    ¡°Cecil, you know what? How about we stop¡ª¡±


    ¡°Be quiet for at least one moment and let me speak, would you?¡± Cecil interrupted him, anger practically written across his face.


    A stunned look appeared on Louis¡¯s face.


    ¡°First of all, I never pushed Silas. Only you assumed that and never bothered to ask about the truth. It seems like you only expect the worst of me.¡±


    A bitter laugh escaped Cecil¡¯s mouth. He clenched his fists and finally asked the question.


    ¡°Louis, would you consider going out with me?¡±


    A laugh escaped Louis¡¯s mouth before he could stop it. Noticing the shocked looks he was getting, he knew he had messed up. How in the world was he supposed to explain this to Silas?


    Louis knew that although Silas looked serious on the surface, he took feelings very seriously and wouldn¡¯t be pleased to see him mocking someone who had just confessed to him. How troublesome.


    ¡°Cecil, look, I¡¯m sorry. This wasn¡¯t the right reaction¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, no kidding.¡± Cecil was shocked as tears began rolling down his cheeks.


    Although he was prepared to get rejected and wanted to take it like a man, he couldn¡¯t control himself when he heard the other party laugh at his love. Was that it? Was that the person he had loved dearly for almost ten years?


    A laugh. That¡¯s what he got for his feelings.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will never bother you and Silas again.¡± After wiping away his tears, he turned around and left.


    Gradually, as he approached the elevator, his steps became faster and faster until he was running.


    His chest was burning, and he felt sick to his stomach. The tears now came even faster, their wetness leaving a burning sensation behind.


    The only thought left in Cecil¡¯s mind was to leave, go somewhere where he could escape those feelings.


    In the office, only Silas and Louis remained. ¡°I think you should go after him.¡±


    Louis looked surprised at Silas. ¡°Why would I? He has finally given up.¡± He smiled at Silas and came closer. ¡°Actually¡ª¡± Louis tried to grab Silas¡¯s hand. ¡°How about we continue where we left off?¡±


    Disgusted, Silas evaded Louis¡¯s hand. Re-adjusting his glasses, he said, ¡°Mr. Nott, I hope you can stop making these inappropriate advances and stop touching me inappropriately. I have no interest in developing a relationship outside of work with you.¡±


    With that, he turned around and left Louis standing alone in his office.


    Silas rushed down the hallway, trying to catch up with Cecil. When he thought about the last time he tried to discourage Cecil¡¯s love and the intense reaction it caused, he shuddered at what could happen if he left the other unattended.


    His heart ached when he thought back to the hurt look on Cecil¡¯s face when his love was met with a laugh. Cecil didn¡¯t deserve something like this. And Louis would never deserve Cecil.


    Once Silas reached the elevator, there was nobody standing in front of it, but the sign indicated that it was heading to the highest floor.


    Thinking about a dark possibility, Silas ran to the stairs without thinking twice. He would never allow such a tragedy to happen, not as long as he was there.


    Although his lungs ached, especially after he became a little ill after the pool incident, he didn¡¯t stop and climbed the stairs as fast as he could.


    They were on the top floor of a 15-floor building; if something happened, no one could save Cecil.


    Anxious, he tried to go even faster. Once he saw the door to the roof, his heart skipped a beat.


    Just a little more. As soon as he opened the door, he looked around to find Cecil.


    When he noticed the other standing near the fence, his heart fell.


    ¡°Cecil, don¡¯t do it! Louis is not worth it!¡± Silas shouted while running toward the other.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he was close enough to grab Cecil and pull him away from the fence. But Silas was running toward Cecil with such speed that they collided and fell to the floor.

 Chapter 8 - A Match Made on the Rooftop

    Surprisingly, the fall didn¡¯t hurt as much as Silas expected. Opening his eyes, he realized why.


    Beneath him, having softened his fall, lay Cecil with a look of pain on his face.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Silas quickly got up and helped Cecil sit up. Sitting on the ground, Cecil rubbed his aching head.


    ¡°If you wanted to save me from dying, you did a bad job because that fall? It definitely almost killed me,¡± Cecil said with a look of annoyance.


    ¡°Sorry, I guess I was a little too hasty¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait, so you really thought I was going to jump?¡± Cecil looked bewildered at Silas.


    Seeing the guilt written on Silas¡¯s face, Cecil couldn¡¯t keep the look of annoyance and burst out laughing. ¡°I just came here to relax and get a change of scenery!¡±


    ¡°Relax on the rooftop?¡± Silas was unable to understand how someone who had just gotten their heart broken would go to the rooftop to relax. Was he the weird one for assuming something worse?


    Between Cecil¡¯s laughs, he managed to lift an arm that was holding his belly and motion for Silas to take a look around.


    Doing as he was told, Silas finally realized where his thoughts had gone wrong. The rooftop wasn¡¯t a bleak cement monster; it was a green garden filled with flowers and benches to relax in the shade.


    Since when did this building have a garden?


    Seeing Silas¡¯s surprised face with his mouth slightly open, so different than usual, Cecil laughed even harder.


    With a sigh, Silas shook his head. As long as it made Cecil happy, he didn¡¯t mind being a fool.


    After Silas helped Cecil up from the ground, the two of them went to sit down in the shade.


    ¡°I have to apologize again for reacting so hastily and hurting you in the process.¡±


    ¡°No worries, and if someone has to apologize, it¡¯s me. If it hadn¡¯t been for me, you wouldn¡¯t have been by the pool and fallen in¡­¡±


    Silas shook his head. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for you being there, I would have drowned. Not to mention¡ªI led you to the pool.¡±


    Turning his gaze to Silas, Cecil furrowed his brows. ¡°That reminds me. Why are you even at work? Didn¡¯t an ambulance drive you away?¡±


    Leaning back, Silas let his eyes wander through the beautiful garden. ¡°It was nothing serious. I only passed out from shock.¡±


    This garden could really cleanse the soul.


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    ¡°From shock, huh? I have never met a person who is afraid of water.¡±


    The corner of Silas¡¯s mouth lifted. He took a look at the person next to him, whose face was still contemplating his ¡®fear of water¡¯. It seemed like the garden and this person had a lot in common.


    Silas relaxed his shoulders, and the tension of the last days disappeared.


    ¡°How do you wash yourself if you are afraid of water¡ª¡±


    ¡°Just like you,¡± Silas interrupted him. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of water; I just can¡¯t swim.¡±


    Cecil¡¯s face turned into an ¡®O¡¯ shape, and then he nodded in understanding.


    After a while of silence, Silas spoke. ¡°Sorry for meddling in your business. You took the matter better than I expected, so I guess I¡¯ll head¡ª¡± He turned his head to look at Cecil, ¡°¡ªback¡­¡±


    The other was sitting next to him silently, while tears were streaming down his face.


    Sighing, Silas reached into his pocket and took out a handkerchief. Silas wanted to hand it to Cecil, but seeing that the other was not reacting, he gripped Cecil¡¯s chin and turned his face toward himself. Then he carefully wiped away the other¡¯s tears.


    Why must this little cutie be so obsessed with that prick?


    Silas swore that if it were him, he would treat Cecil better.


    ¡°I thought everything was okay.¡±


    ¡°Well, it was, ¡ªbut once we stopped talking, the tears came again, ¡ª¡± Silas petted his back comfortingly.


    ¡°Why would he laugh at my confession? Is it so absurd to go out with me?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not. Every guy should be happy if you like them. Louis is just a big, blind idiot with no taste.¡±


    Cecil¡¯s eyes lit up, and he stomped his foot. ¡°You¡¯re right! I could have anyone in the world if I wanted. Many would beg to be my boyfriend!¡±


    Hearing Cecil¡¯s words, Silas laughed. How could such a bright young man be caught by Louis?


    Next to him, Cecil stared blankly at Silas. ¡°How beautiful.¡±


    Silas and Cecil¡¯s eyes met, but Silas looked away as if burned.


    He scolded his heart that was beating faster after hearing Cecil¡¯s words. How could he lust after someone whose heart just got broken? Especially since they were incompatible anyway. Falling for the other would only end in heartbreak.


    Noticing Silas¡¯s unease, Cecil tried to explain. ¡°I¡¯m not joking. I truly meant it. I was just surprised because it was the first time I saw it.¡±


    Screw it.


    Turning his head back, Silas gave Cecil a sheepish smile. ¡°You really know how to make the hearts of others flutter. If you continue to say words like that, I might end up falling for you.¡±


    Cecil¡¯s eyes widened, and his mouth opened in surprise.


    Maybe that had been too much. ¡°I¡¯m just joking with you.¡± Silas turned serious. ¡°Forget about Louis and find someone who can truly make you happy.¡±


    After lifting his head that had previously been lowered in embarrassment for almost taking Silas¡¯s joke seriously, Cecil nodded.


    ¡°I guess I should still congratulate you. You¡¯re really a decent man to even comfort your love rival.¡±


    Silas froze. ¡°Congratulate me for what?¡±


    Cecil looked at him puzzled. ¡°Well, obviously you getting together with Louis.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Silas looked at this adorable little idiot and said with emphasis, ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°I may have had interest in Louis in the beginning, but I don¡¯t like ungrateful bulls.¡±


    Cecil looked at him with big eyes and then patted his head in comfort. ¡°So, I guess we¡¯re both brokenhearted?¡±


    Silas sighed while looking at the sky. He was never in love with Louis to begin with, okay?


    ***


    As Cecil was lying in bed later that day, Silas¡¯s words wouldn¡¯t leave him alone. He was lying in bed, but instead of sleeping, Cecil was just rolling from one side to the other, replaying Silas¡¯s words.


    ¡®Forget about Louis.¡¯


    Although his talk with Silas had made the heaviness in his chest disappear, he still felt uneasy deep down.


    Louis had been with him for so long that Cecil could not imagine a life without him, and if he did imagine it, he felt scared. All the darkness reappeared once he tried to forget the only person who brought light into his world.


    His breathing became hard when he thought of being alone again.


    Then Silas¡¯s smile appeared in his mind.


    Silas was a smart man, so his advice would benefit him. Cecil felt like he could trust the other.


    After taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he felt ready. So Cecil groped around the bed to find his phone, which he had carelessly dropped somewhere on the bed.


    Once he found it, he did the only thing he could think of¡ªask the internet for advice.


    Searching the web for answers to his question, Cecil stumbled upon an article with the headline ¡®To forget an old love, you need a new love.¡¯


    In that moment, Cecil felt like a new window had appeared in front of him.


    If he had someone else be the light, then the darkness could never reach him. He was a true genius! Jumping up from bed, he danced out of happiness.


    Wait.


    Cecil¡¯s movements came to a halt.


    Who the heck was this new love supposed to be?


    Cecil¡¯s arms fell down, and he stared into the room. Did he know any high-quality men who were gentle, good-looking, but not promiscuous?


    Suddenly, a face with black-rimmed glasses appeared before him. The man was good-looking, had a good personality, and was single. Not to mention, he also recently lost his love, so he also needed a new one.


    Wasn¡¯t this what they called a match made in heaven?


    In his excitement, his gaze fell on the handkerchief on the desk in his room.


    That¡¯s it! What better excuse is there than to meet someone to return something to them?


    A smile spread on his face.


    He really was a genius.

 Chapter 9 - A Shirt for a Phone Number

    As a man of action, Cecil went to the office the very next day.


    Today, he had three objectives: first, give back the handkerchief; second, get Silas¡¯s phone number; and lastly, create an opportunity for their next meeting.


    With a plan in hand, he reached the floor where Louis¡¯s company was located. When the elevator doors opened, the face of the man he least wanted to see appeared.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Louis¡¯s face twitched.


    ¡°I work here,¡± he replied with a slightly annoyed tone. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to entertain you today¡ª¡±


    Without waiting for Louis to finish, Cecil walked past him, leaving Louis standing next to the elevator with gritted teeth.


    Although the encounter left Cecil slightly annoyed, it wasn¡¯t enough to destroy his good mood. After all, he had been mentally prepared to see the other party.


    Seeing the door to Silas¡¯s office in front of him, Cecil became nervous.


    His mind raced, thinking about the possibility that he had left a bad impression on Silas somewhere, but nothing came to mind.


    He only showed off his wealth, which was a plus point, showed his dedication when chasing another person, saved his life, and showed Silas that he was capable of showing emotions and not some repressed guy. All in all, only positive things.


    With a smile on his face, he politely knocked on the door and entered only when called.


    See? Only good manners.


    The first thing he saw upon entering the room was red. In the corner of the room on a desk stood a bouquet of flowers, although some of them were already hanging their heads, the owner still couldn¡¯t bear to throw them away.


    Cecil was stunned; the bouquet looked very familiar. He trusted that Silas would keep his word, so seeing the flowers here could only mean Louis didn¡¯t want them.


    The smile on his face dimmed. Louis really was blind.


    ¡°Sorry, I should have asked if it was okay for me to keep them, but I thought they were too beautiful to throw away.¡±


    Still keeping his eyes on the flowers, Cecil slowly shook his head. ¡°They had it better in your care.¡±


    Finally, he turned around to meet Silas¡¯s gaze, with a new smile on his face. ¡°But next time, I¡¯ll bring you your own bouquet to take care of. How about you throw it away? The flowers aren¡¯t pretty anymore.¡±


    ¡°No. I still like them.¡± Cecil observed the soft look in Silas¡¯s eyes when he looked at the flowers as if seeing something beautiful in these broken, ugly things.


    ¡°Besides¡ª¡± he turned to Cecil, ¡°these are the first flowers I got, so I need to cherish them until I get new ones.¡± He threw Cecil a playful smile.


    Cecil¡¯s mouth opened wide. This was the first time anyone responded so boldly to him, so he couldn¡¯t find any words and only lowered his head in embarrassment.


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    After clearing his throat to rid himself of the embarrassment, Cecil lifted his head again. Rummaging in his pocket, he finally found what he was looking for.


    ¡°Here.¡± He handed Silas his handkerchief. Seeing the other not respond, Cecil grew worried.


    ¡°It¡¯s already washed, so it¡¯s not dirty anymore if that¡¯s why you¡¯re hesitating.¡±


    Silas hurriedly shook his head and reached out for the handkerchief. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    After a while, Silas pointed at the chair opposite him. Only then did Cecil realize that he was still standing in the middle of the room like an idiot.


    ¡°Ugh.¡± He quickly sat down.


    As the silence between them grew, Cecil fumbled more and more with his fingers.


    Watching this, Silas felt amused. He was really curious about what this little cutie had spun out now, so he waited, anticipating Cecil¡¯s explanation.


    But soon Silas couldn¡¯t stand seeing Cecil so nervous, so he rescued the other.


    He wanted to get up and get a glass of water to relax the situation, but as soon as he moved, Cecil stared at him.


    Seeing his questioning eyes, Silas explained, ¡°I just wanted to get some water.¡±


    However, as soon as Cecil heard his words, he jumped up. ¡°Sit back down; I¡¯ll get it. I came in unannounced, so you shouldn¡¯t have to cater to me.¡±


    While getting the glass, Cecil chattered without pause. He hastily filled the glass and practically dashed towards Silas to give him the water. But in his haste, he stumbled over his own two feet and spilled the water.


    Shocked, Cecil froze. Could he not do one simple thing right?


    Slowly, he lifted his lowered head to see the whole extent of the mess he created, and then he froze again.


    Silas¡¯s white shirt was completely soaked through, making the thin fabric see-through. Since it was hot, the other man was not wearing a shirt underneath, making the shirt stick closely to his skin, painting every curve of his body with an alluring stroke.


    Cecil could see everything. He felt like he was burning. But no matter how many times he told himself that staring was indecent, he couldn¡¯t look away.


    This man really had a beautiful body.


    Silas, on the other hand, had a hard time containing a smile. Although wet clothes felt uncomfortable on the skin and he hated the feeling¡ªespecially since he had been wearing wet clothes far too often lately¡ªhe still just stood there and endured.


    What was better than a beauty trap? Every man was a visual creature anyway. And judging by the reaction, it worked.


    Sensing that the other party was slowly regaining thinking functions, Silas cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom to dry myself.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Cecil replied dumbly.


    Only after Silas had left and the sound of the door closing entered his brain did he recover.


    Covering his face with his hands, Cecil squatted down.


    How indecent! And what kind of brute stares at <mark>another¡¯s</mark> body like that? What would Silas think of him?


    But that body¡ª Then thin body with a layer of muscle, the chest and that waist. It seemed rather small, but just right to grip¡ª


    Stop! What kind of pervert was he, thinking about his object of pursuit like a piece of flesh?


    Cecil scolded himself. And now he was sitting in the office thinking about indecent things instead of helping Silas clean up the mess he had created.


    So without a second thought, Cecil rushed to the bathroom to help Silas dry his clothes. But for the nth time, he froze as soon as he opened the door.


    In the bathroom, Silas stood at the sink with his back facing him. He had taken off the wet shirt, and now his upper body was completely naked, leaving nothing to the imagination.


    From behind, Cecil could see Silas¡¯s back. The sight reminded him of the time they fell into the pool and his wet shirt made it possible to see his well-developed back muscles.


    Thinking about it, it seems that Silas is always getting wet¡­


    Cecil blushed. Now that sounded wrong¡ª


    It didn¡¯t take long for Silas to notice the other person in the room, so he turned around to face him. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you. I was worried that someone might come in and¡ª¡±


    But Cecil didn¡¯t let Silas finish. With a swift motion, he took off his outer sweater and threw it to Silas.


    ¡°At least cover yourself! How can anyone be so indecent?¡± Cecil turned his burning face to the side, only to be met with Silas¡¯s reflection in the mirror, where he could see the small waist, the well-formed chest, and the red points on it.


    Then he made eye contact with Silas.


    Silas could swear he had never seen someone lower their head faster.


    With his gaze on the sink, something else caught his attention and a sudden flash of inspiration hit him.


    So he turned back to Silas, snatched the other¡¯s wet shirt, took his phone, and then his hand to unlock it. Then he swiftly entered his number into the other¡¯s contacts and dialed his own phone.


    All this without looking at Silas. He couldn¡¯t let himself be charmed for a third time in a day. Where was his pride as a male?


    After he was done with this series of actions, he put the phone down and with the shirt in his hand, ran away. ¡°I¡¯ll go clean up your office. Remember to put on the sweater so you don¡¯t catch a cold.¡±


    Then only a stunned Silas was still standing inside the bathroom.


    After a while, Silas broke out laughing. How could anyone be so adorable?


    With a smile on his face, he put on the sweater. It still had a bit of residual warmth sticking to it and, to his surprise, it was only a little short on the sleeves.


    Thinking about it, it seemed to have been a bit on the oversized side.


    Every time he moved, he could smell the scent of Cecil enveloping him, like a lover¡¯s hug. It almost felt like the other was always with him. It felt very reassuring and safe.


    While opening the door, another thought appeared in his mind.


    Maybe he should make it a habit of wearing his cutie¡¯s clothes.


    bing is broken

 Chapter 10 - Hot Mess in the Kitchen

    When Silas returned to his office there was no sight of Cecil, but the water on the desk had been cleaned.


    Disappointed, he sat down in his chair. It seemed like the rabbit got away.


    Just as he was thinking about the next steps he should take, his phone made a sound.


    ¡°Saturday 17 o¡¯clock at this address. Don¡¯t be late if you want your stuff back.¡±


    If it hadn¡¯t been for the name of the sender, Silas would have thought he was being blackmailed.


    Leaning the top of the phone against his chin, Silas smirked. The fish jumped into his net on its own. So, he wouldn¡¯t blame himself if he never let it free again, right?


    Letting his gaze wander out of the window, he got lost in thought. Hopefully, Saturday comes fast.


    Then he turned back around to the desk and got serious. Chasing a high-maintenance man needed achievements; he couldn¡¯t slack off at work. So, Silas threw himself back into the mountains of work he had to do.


    ¡ª-


    Lying in bed, Cecil frowned. Why was it so stuffy?


    Unconsciously, Cecil tried to find an explanation with his hazy mind. Did the king-sized bed suddenly shrink? Or was he sleeping in a cheap hotel? Or did he buy another huge ?


    Wanting to gain more room, Cecil tried to push the thing that was taking up space. But what greeted him wasn¡¯t a stuffed toy but a soft and warm body.


    Immediately, Cecil opened his eyes wide in shock, the sleepiness disappearing in a flash.


    And what he saw shocked Cecil even more.


    Next to him lay Silas, but not like normal¡ªno, he was naked! With his mouth falling open, Cecil tried to keep his eyes from wandering from Silas¡¯s face to his exposed upper body, but it was extremely hard.


    Why was he not wearing anything? Looking down on himself, he saw that he too was naked!


    Suddenly, a warm hand touched his arm.


    ¡°Why are you awake?¡± A sleepy voice sounded next to him.


    Cecil didn¡¯t dare to look at Silas. Especially not after he noticed that the other sat up in bed and he heard the sound of soft fabric falling down.


    ¡°Cecil?¡±


    Dissatisfaction could be heard from Silas¡¯s voice.


    Cecil pretended to be dead. Was this some kind of dream? If yes, then please let him wake up now!


    But all his thoughts disappeared when a warm body hugged him from behind.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are dissatisfied with last night?¡±


    Silas¡¯s warm breath was hitting Cecil¡¯s sensitive neck and made every hair on his back stand.


    Cecil swallowed dryly.


    Not getting any reaction, Silas lifted his hand and ran it down Cecil¡¯s naked chest.


    Stunned, Cecil grabbed the naughty hand and turned Silas over while locking the other¡¯s hands above his head.


    Seeing Silas¡¯s black hair fall softly on the pillow, his defenseless look, and the countless hickeys on his body, Cecil lost it.


    He bent down to take a taste of the soft-looking lips and ran his hands along the smooth muscles, feeling the warm skin underneath his hands.


    It was like an electric current was traveling through Cecil¡¯s body, making him more sensitive than normal.


    Looking up, his and Silas¡¯s eyes met. Seeing the provocation in them, Cecil couldn¡¯t hold back. He reached down toward the area that was still hidden by the blanket and wanted to touch it, but as soon as his hands made contact with the object of his lust, he got kicked down from the bed.


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    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Lifting his eyes, he saw Silas looking down at him with disappointment.


    ¡°Going to bed before the first date? Aren¡¯t you a bit too fast?¡±


    Shocked, Cecil wanted to apologize. ¡°No, Silas, that wasn¡¯t my intention, I¡ª¡± But he couldn¡¯t finish his words.


    A shrill sound was ringing in his ears.


    ¡°What the Hawk!¡±


    Annoyed, Cecil opened his eyes.


    Seeing the alarm clock ringing and the light shining through the window, Cecil grimaced.


    Letting himself fall back into bed, he reached out his hand to feel the other side of the bed. Cold.


    Putting his hands in front of his face, Cecil sighed disappointed.


    It was only a dream¡­


    But soon he got rid of his low mood. Today, he and Silas would have their first date! Excited, he got out of bed and froze.


    Feeling a sticky sensation in his underwear, Cecil¡¯s face began burning.


    How the Hawk was he supposed to face Silas today?!


    ¡ª-


    What would be the best first date? Of course, a date that fit the preferences of the one one wanted to chase!


    Usually, Cecil would have invited Silas to a restaurant, as he had always done with Louis, but since he still remembered Silas¡¯s words that he preferred home-cooked meals, Cecil decided he would cook for them himself.


    He was confident in his cooking skills, even if he had never stood in the kitchen himself before.


    But how hard could it be to follow a simple recipe?


    As it turned out, very hard.


    Cutting the vegetables while the meat was already in the pan and not forgetting to cook the rice was too much at once for Cecil. So the meat burnt, the vegetables were brick-sized, and the rice had turned into pudding when the bell to the front door rang.


    For the first time in his life, Cecil just wanted to hide in shame and die on the spot. But when the bell rang for a third time, he had to get up with tears in his eyes.


    In shame, he opened the front door a crack to see Silas standing there.


    For a moment, Cecil forgot about the first date that had already failed before it even started and just stared at Silas.


    It was the first time he saw Silas in casual clothes.


    When he realized his staring, he decided that taking one last look didn¡¯t matter anyway and so he continued taking in every last detail.


    ¡°While I appreciate that you like my appearance, I think there are other things we should be doing right now.¡±


    In Cecil¡¯s foggy brain, he couldn¡¯t understand what Silas was saying. Doing something else than just looking?


    He didn¡¯t know if he was already prepared for that!


    Cecil hesitated. But if Silas wanted, they could head to the convenience store downstairs to¡ª


    Silas smiled gently at Cecil, who looked at him dumbly, as he pointed at the black smoke that was escaping through the crack of the door.


    ¡°Such as making sure whatever is burning in the kitchen doesn¡¯t burn down the house.¡±


    In shock, Cecil turned around only to see an orange flame starting to appear on his pan.


    ¡°My steak!¡± Cecil cried out.


    Without hesitating for even one second, Silas took off his coat and threw it onto the pan while taking it down from the stove.


    After he turned off the stove and made sure the fire was put out, he took a look at Cecil, who was sitting on the floor in despair.


    Shaking his head in amusement, Silas opened the windows in the apartment to let the smoke escape the room and fresh air enter.


    ¡°You must think I¡¯m totally pathetic.¡± A muttering could be heard behind him.


    Turning around, he saw Cecil still sitting on the floor with his head on his knees.


    Actually, it was quite the opposite.


    Silas didn¡¯t think Cecil¡¯s efforts to make him a meal were pathetic, even if they turned into a disaster. He was very touched. It was the first time somebody not only gave their all to make something themselves, especially a young master who probably never had seen the kitchen from inside, but also the first time someone remembered his preferences.


    Just the thought of Cecil standing in the kitchen wanting to cook for him made him feel warm and fuzzy all over. If he could, Silas wanted to hug the other and never let go.


    And for the first time, he didn¡¯t mind acting on impulse.


    Cecil suddenly felt something surrounding him, and then he was held in a warm embrace. Instantly, all the dark thoughts and worries disappeared, and only comfort remained.


    When was the last time he was hugged? Probably when his father was still alive, when he still had a happy family¡­


    Only when Silas¡¯s fingers touched his cheeks to wipe away the tears did he realize that he had started crying.


    Cecil laughed embarrassingly. How many times had it been that he had cried in front of Silas? Probably too many to count.


    Silas must think he is a crybaby.


    Getting up from the ground, Silas stretched out his hand towards Cecil.


    ¡°Come on, I¡¯m hungry, let¡¯s try again.¡±


    Stunned, it took Cecil a while to react. This man had seen him cry so many times and seen so many uncool moments of him and he still didn¡¯t leave?


    Looking at the outstretched hand, Cecil hesitated. Maybe it was okay. Maybe he would understand¡ª


    Instead of waiting for Cecil to make a decision, Silas took his hand and led him into the kitchen.


    Cecil looked at their joint hands and thought back to the banquet where Silas had also just taken his hand and led him away. Maybe it¡¯s okay to not always take the lead and sometimes just follow, because it seemed like he didn¡¯t need to worry about the other party disappearing if they held hands.


    Once they arrived in the kitchen, another wave of embarrassment hit him.


    The whole kitchen was smelling burnt, and the food in the pots was unrecognizable. But he felt even worse when he saw Silas¡¯s coat, which had been used to put out the fire.


    The originally  coat had black spots from the fire. It was completely ruined.


    Feeling the other¡¯s just-lifted mood plummeting again, Silas was confused. But when he followed the other¡¯s line of sight, he


    immediately understood.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it was an old coat. I wanted to buy a new one anyways.¡±


    ¡°You just brought forward the date.¡± He joked to lighten the mood.


    ¡°You wanted to buy a new one anyway?¡± Cecil muttered beneath his breath, when a grandiose idea hit him.


    Observing the other¡¯s lit-up eyes and smirk on his face, Silas was sure that Cecil had come up with another plan.


    With raised lips, he started cleaning up the mess and once Cecil came back to earth, he also helped.


    When the kitchen and pots were clean, they were a mess.


    Their faces had drops of sweat on them, and their clothes were wet from the water.


    Well, at least Silas¡¯s clothes were wet.


    Noticing Cecil¡¯s gaze, Silas looked down at himself.


    ¡°It seems like I always get wet because of you.¡± Silas joked with an ambiguous smile on his face.


    When he saw Cecil¡¯s innocent face, he always had the evil urge to make a beautiful blush cover his face and make the other¡¯s heart beat because of him. So he would forget that Bull sooner.


    And the desired effect appeared immediately.


    Cecil¡¯s face turned from self-blame to red to burning in a matter of seconds until he could not stand Silas¡¯s gaze and dashed into the bathroom.


    Leaning against the counter, Silas felt satisfied. But at the same time, he wished they could progress faster so that Cecil could only have him in his eyes and be his.


    When Cecil returned to the kitchen, he saw Silas rummaging through the cabinets.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡±


    Silas turned towards Cecil with an opened pack of rice in his hand.


    ¡°Searching for some ingredients to make us dinner.¡±


    Guilty, Cecil averted Silas¡¯s sight.


    Cecil had invited Silas to one of his apartments, but since he usually lived with his family since his mother wanted them to live together, it usually stood empty. But since he couldn¡¯t invite Silas home, he had called someone to clean and prepare the ingredients he listed. So it was only natural that Silas could not find anything since he wasted the ingredients with his earlier cooking attempt.


    Racking his brain for a solution, Cecil suddenly thought about the eggs and the tomatoes in the fridge. Originally, he didn¡¯t want to use them because they looked ugly, but now it seemed like they came in handy.


    Once he found them, he proudly presented them to Silas.


    With a solemn look, Silas inspected the ingredients.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    Guilty, Cecil nodded.


    Silas sighed.


    ¡°I guess then I can only make tomato egg stir fry.¡±


    Although he wanted to impress Cecil with his cooking, the ingredients didn¡¯t allow anything fancy.


    It seemed like the strategy ¡®love through the stomach¡¯ had to wait for a bit longer.

 Chapter 11 - The ‘Shirt for a Date’ Deal Continues

    Without waiting any longer, Silas got to work. Beside him, Cecil tried to help, but after he sprayed tomato juice onto Silas for the third time, he was kicked out.


    So Cecil had no choice but to sit on the couch and wait patiently for Silas to finish.


    It didn¡¯t take long before a mouth-watering aroma escaped the kitchen.


    Unable to contain his curiosity, Cecil tiptoed toward the kitchen door and opened it a bit to get a clearer look at the situation.


    As soon as he opened the door, the delicious smell grew stronger, and Cecil had to swallow.


    Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared in front of him. Looking up, he saw Silas watching him with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°, I just¡ª¡±


    Silas interrupted him. ¡°If you¡¯re already here, help me set the table.¡±


    Cecil obediently took the plates and brought them into the living room.


    Seeing the empty table, Cecil suddenly remembered something and rushed toward his room.


    When Silas entered the living room, his steps came to a halt.


    ¡°I thought you liked the flowers I brought last time, so I brought you new ones. But this time, they are only for you.¡±


    Seeing Silas only stare at the flowers and not reacting, Cecil grew nervous.


    ¡°I originally wanted to give them to you when you came, but then I totally forgot¡ª¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Silas set down the dishes to free his hands. When he touched the fragile flower petals, he felt warm.


    This man may be an idiot in some parts of life others would see as ordinary, but he carefully thought about him and always tried his best to make him happy.


    While Cecil was distracted, Silas leaned down to touch the other¡¯s cheek with his lips lightly.


    Snapping his head toward Silas, Cecil was shocked. Did he imagine the touch on his cheek, or did it really happen?


    But when he looked at Silas, who was nonchalantly sitting down on a chair, Cecil doubted himself.


    ¡°Sit down and eat, or the food will get cold.¡±


    On the other hand, Silas suppressed a smile. His cutie was so adorable.


    After they finished their meal and cleaned the dishes, it was already late. Just when Silas was getting ready to leave, Cecil gave him something.


    Seeing the washed shirt in his hand, Silas was confused for a moment.


    Clearing his throat, Cecil sheepishly pushed the shirt toward Silas. ¡°You should change your shirt since it got dirty.¡±


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    Turning his head to avoid Silas¡¯s sight, he added, ¡°Just leave the other one here. I¡¯ll give it to you the next time we meet.¡±


    With a raised eyebrow, Silas teased, ¡°And when is the next time going to be?¡±


    Holding his breath and trying to calm his beating heart, Cecil tried his best to keep his voice steady. ¡°How about tomorrow? Then I can also get you a new coat since it was my fault the other got ruined.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Silas deliberately paused for a while. ¡°But will the shirt be clean until then already?¡±


    Cecil decided to bite the bullet and lie. ¡°No, but I can give it back to you at a later date.¡±


    Pretending to think about it, Silas remained quiet. Ah, his little cutie was always a step faster than himself. Silas had to admit Cecil was very good at finding excuses to meet him.


    But after tomorrow, he wanted to go on a date without having to use an excuse.


    ¡°Okay. How about 12?¡±


    Cecil released the breath he didn¡¯t even notice he was holding.


    Excited, he was unable to control himself and hugged Silas. Just when he wanted to let go and apologize, the other hugged him back.


    After a while, Silas let go. ¡°Well, then. I should change. I¡¯ll leave the shirt on the counter in the bathroom, alright?¡±


    A dazed Cecil just nodded.


    ¡ª-


    Later, Cecil also returned home. He didn¡¯t want to spend the night all alone in the unfamiliar apartment, so he returned home late at night.


    The whole house was shrouded in darkness, and it seemed like all its inhabitants had already gone to sleep.


    Sneaking into the house as quietly as possible to not wake anybody up, Cecil only used the light of his phone to light the way.


    Suddenly, the lights in the living room went on, and a figure sitting on the couch was revealed.


    Cecil felt a sense of   wash over him. Didn¡¯t a similar scene only happen a few days ago?


    ¡°Well, well, look who we have here. A sneaky little thief.¡± Cyrus looked at his younger brother with pursed lips and  anger.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a thief!¡±


    Cyrus lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Then why do you sneak around the house in the dark like one?¡±


    Cecil pressed his lips together, unwilling to answer.


    Seeing this, Cyrus felt fury rising in his heart. He had thought his dumb brother had finally seen the light and given up on that Bull, but now he was hiding something from them again.


    He already knew something was wrong the moment Cecil avoided him after he supposedly went to confront Louis. That Bull must have used some honeyed words, and now Cecil was wrapped around his fingers again.


    Just why wouldn¡¯t he understand?


    ¡°Duck! I thought you weren¡¯t that stupid, but you refresh my understanding of your IQ again and again. If that Bull Louis said Santa exists, you would also believe it, don¡¯t you?¡± Disappointed, he shook his head. ¡°Can¡¯t you forget that Bull, you idiot?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Outraged by Cyrus¡¯s words, Cecil¡¯s face turned red with anger. ¡°Who the Hawk would believe dung from this big, fat Bull? I don¡¯t even want to talk or think about that Bull anymore; why do you keep bringing him up?¡±


    Angry, he pointed at Cyrus. ¡°And you are the idiot, idiot!¡±


    Now it was Cyrus who was confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you go meet with him today?¡±


    Bewildered, Cecil¡¯s face twisted in disgust. ¡°Why would I meet with him?¡±


    Staring at Cecil accusingly, Cyrus pointed something out. ¡°Then why were you avoiding Mom and me in the past few days and only stayed in your room if you don¡¯t have anything to hide?¡±


    Now Cecil averted his sight.


    Seeing Cecil¡¯s evasive behavior, Cyrus jumped up. ¡°Aha! See, I was right; you have something to hide!¡±


    Leaning closely toward Cecil, he inspected the other¡¯s face as if he could find traces of the truth on it. ¡°What is it that you hide from your older brother?¡±


    Afraid that his brother would notice something, he closed his eyes. But Cyrus was just waiting for this moment.


    He reached inside Cecil¡¯s pocket and grabbed the other¡¯s phone, and before Cecil could react, he dashed away.


    Cecil needed a few minutes to realize what had just happened, then he chased after Cyrus as if he were being hunted by a pack of wolves.


    ¡°Give me back my phone!¡±


    ¡°Why? Do you have something that you don¡¯t want your older brother to see?¡±


    Actually, he did not think that he needed to hide Silas¡¯s existence from his brother, but his family was too controlling. What if they weren¡¯t satisfied and tried to play some tricks like when they had sent him abroad?


    He couldn¡¯t let that happen, so Cecil accelerated.


    ¡°Mmm, what could be the password? That Bull¡¯s birthday?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s wrong! Ha!¡±


    ¡°Eh? You sure? ¡®Cause I just unlocked it.¡± Cyrus waved the unlocked phone in front of Cecil¡¯s eyes with a smug look on his face. ¡°I knew you were lying when you said you weren¡¯t talking to him anymore.¡±


    Separated by a table, Cecil¡¯s face contorted. He must have forgotten to change the password since he always used his finger to unlock it. What dung luck.


    ¡°So let¡¯s see what we have here¡­ Huh? Silas? Who is that?¡±


    In a desperate attempt to stop his brother, Cecil jumped over the table to reach the other side. But Cyrus was prepared. He evaded Cecil and ran up the stairs.


    Cecil, who fell after Cyrus evaded him, got up from the ground and ran after Cyrus to the second floor.


    ¡°Stop it! That¡¯s an invasion of my privacy!¡±


    ¡°Hah!¡± Cyrus laughed like crazy. ¡°What¡¯s privacy between brothers?¡±


    ¡°Uh, a meeting tomorrow? Where?¡±


    Hearing Cyrus¡¯s words, Cecil stopped thinking and just acted. To lessen the distance between them, he jumped on Cyrus¡¯s back, and the two fell to the ground. Knowing that Cyrus had the upper hand in strength, Cecil did the only thing he could think of: scream.


    ¡°Cyrus, you big idiot.¡±


    A look of fear and realization passed his face before turning into resignation when he heard a door open.


    ¡°What the Hawk are the two of you doing at two o¡¯clock in the morning?¡±


    Cecil, not afraid of death, immediately blamed his brother. ¡°Mother, he stole my phone! And is looking through it without permission!¡±


    Now Cecil¡¯s only hope was that his mother, still half asleep and annoyed from getting woken up, wouldn¡¯t want to know the reason for his brother¡¯s actions because if she wanted to know, he would be doomed.


    And if it worked, he would just sneak out very early tomorrow to avoid meeting these two.


    ¡°Cyrus, give your brother his phone.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t understand¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop.¡± Mrs. Althan massaged her brows. ¡°We can talk tomorrow. Now I want to sleep. So, phone!¡±


    With gritted teeth, Cyrus gave Cecil his phone back, who disappeared as fast as the wind. The last sound that could be heard was Cecil locking his door.

 Chapter 12 - Lessons in Love and Giving

    The next day Cecil decided the safest way to avoid his mother and brother would be to climb out of the window.


    Although it was still early when he left the house, Cecil still decided to head for the meeting place early. He would just find a cafe nearby and wait for the time to come.


    At ten o¡¯clock, still two hours before their agreed upon time, Cecil noticed a figure that looked suspiciously close to Silas.


    When choosing his waiting spot, he had made sure that he could see the place where they were supposed to meet clearly, so Cecil was stunned. Did Silas also arrive early?


    Throwing cash on the table, Cecil rushed out of the small cafe, leaving the server extremely happy over receiving a large tip.


    With his heart thumping hard, Cecil ran towards the man suspected of being Silas. The closer he came, the surer he got, and the bigger his smile grew.


    ¡°Silas!¡±


    Hearing a shout from behind, Silas turned around. Seeing Cecil running towards him with a big smile on his face and eyes that only had him in them, Silas thought he was dreaming.


    Only when he was caught in a warm embrace was he sure that he was not imagining things and the person Cecil was running towards was really him.


    Seeing someone so happy at his sheer presence made Silas emotional. He really chose the right person.


    Noticing that Silas was not hugging him back, Cecil looked up nervously. Was Silas uncomfortable to be hugged in public? Cecil still remembered Louis¡¯ reaction when he hugged him in front of others. He really didn¡¯t want to make Silas angry, so he tried to retreat hastily, but a hand on his back held him.


    ¡°Sorry, I was too surprised to react.¡± A warm smile appeared on Silas¡¯ face as he looked at Cecil. Maybe even he himself didn¡¯t notice how gentle his gaze was, as if he was looking at his most precious treasure. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so early.¡±


    ¡°.¡± Cecil laughed sheepishly. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I got here a bit earlier because I was too excited.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, me too.¡±


    Noticing that Silas was still only holding him with one arm, Cecil got curious. Lifting his neck to take a look at Silas¡¯ other hand, he was stopped by Silas¡¯ chuckle.


    Silas lifted his hand and revealed a small bouquet. ¡°I originally wanted it to be bigger, but then I remembered we were supposed to go shopping and carrying flowers with you would be too inconvenient. But in the end, I still got it.¡± He scratched the back of his head in slight embarrassment. ¡°Because- I thought I don¡¯t want to be the only one to receive gifts.¡±


    Not be the only one to receive gifts? But wasn¡¯t that how it was supposed to be? Unconsciously, Cecil had said his doubt out loud.


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    ¡°No.¡± Silas shook his head gently. ¡°Just as you want me to be happy by giving me gifts, I also want to see you smile after getting one from me.¡± He gently caressed Cecil¡¯s cheek. ¡°If only I¡¯m happy, what¡¯s the point?¡±


    Cecil just stood there, unable to comprehend Silas¡¯ words. To love is to give, right? But Silas said love is also about receiving. Pondering, Cecil lowered his head into Silas¡¯ warm embrace.


    Above, Silas continued. ¡°If you only take, then maybe one day you will find out that the other has nothing left to give, and even their feelings are given away.¡±


    When did he ever receive anything from Louis? Shocked, Cecil found that he couldn¡¯t remember getting even a single thing from Louis. Back then, he always thought that was okay because he had money and the other didn¡¯t¡­ ¡°But I have more money than you, so isn¡¯t it only normal for me to give you things?¡±


    Lifting the other¡¯s face, Silas looked Cecil deep in the eyes. ¡°Even if I had not a single penny on me, I would still give you flowers even if I had to pick them from the roadside. They may not be expensive and maybe not even as pretty but-¡± A smile crossed his face. ¡°I would still do it if it made you smile.¡±


    Slowly Cecil¡¯s face turned completely red, until even his ears felt like they were burning. Shoving Silas away and snatching the bouquet out of his hands, Cecil turned away. With a hand on his racing heart in hopes to calm it, he started walking.


    ¡°You better not lose all your money, what would the people say if they saw you picking wildflowers off the roadside?¡±


    Smiling, Silas went to catch up with Cecil. ¡°You never know what will happen in life. Maybe I lose my job the next day.¡± He shrugged his shoulders.


    Shooting the man walking next to him an annoyed look, Cecil said, ¡°I guess then I have to take care of you. You can be happy that I¡¯m rich!¡±


    With a laugh, Silas took Cecil¡¯s hand. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go looking for a coat.¡±


    Looking at their joined hands, Silas felt more relaxed than he had ever before.


    It seemed like he had finally found a place to call home.


    Walking along the shopping street while holding hands felt surprisingly good. Cecil couldn¡¯t keep his face from making a silly smile.


    If he had known holding hands felt so good, he would have tried it sooner, but- Louis didn¡¯t like physical contact, so the occasional hug was all he got.


    Cecil could count on two hands how often he had hugged Louis in the past ten years. But with Silas¡­


    They were only on their second date and already held hands. Wait, actually they had also held hands at the banquet¡­


    Gripping the other¡¯s hand tighter, Cecil wished Silas would never let go of him.


    Along the way, there were many posters advertising events that were happening in the city. Cecil let his gaze wander over them, when suddenly one caught his attention.


    Noticing that Cecil was staring at something intensely, Silas followed his line of sight.


    A gallery opening?


    Looking at the light in Cecil¡¯s eyes, Silas was sure that the other wanted to go but even when they had passed the poster Cecil still hadn¡¯t said a word.


    ¡°Did you see the advertisements on the side?¡± Cecil nodded.


    ¡°It seems like there is a gallery opening today. Sounds interesting, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but aren¡¯t we supposed to buy you a coat?¡± Cecil looked at Silas without a hint of regret. Although he really wanted to go to the gallery, today was his day with Silas. A gallery can¡¯t run away, but a man can.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be okay to do both?¡±


    With slight embarrassment, Cecil shook his head. ¡°Well, normally maybe, but when I go into one I usually spend the whole day there.¡±


    Silas was stunned. One could spend a whole day looking at paintings?


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Looking at Cecil, Silas made up his mind. Even if he had no real interest in paintings, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to understand his future lover¡¯s hobbies. Especially since it seemed like Cecil really loved such activities.


    ¡°I was never in a gallery before, but it sounds interesting. Would you mind taking me with you and explaining everything to me?¡±


    Expectations and struggle appeared on Cecil¡¯s face. ¡°But what about the coat-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, can¡¯t we get it another day?¡±


    Another date? Cecil almost jumped for joy. ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s go!¡±


    The gallery wasn¡¯t far away, so it didn¡¯t take them long before they arrived.


    Seeing the carefully dressed people, Silas felt a little out of place in his casual clothes. ¡°Is it alright for us to enter with casual clothes?¡±


    Cecil looked him up and down for quite a while. It wasn¡¯t until Silas knocked on his head that he took back his stare.


    Clearing his throat awkwardly while averting his eyes, Cecil said, ¡°No problem, you look great.¡±


    Shaking his head while laughing, the two entered the gallery with the other people.


    Silas understood nothing about paintings and artists, but even so, he never felt bored. Watching Cecil staring at the paintings with fascination, he himself felt like he was observing a beautiful painting. No matter from which angle he looked, Cecil would always surprise him and show him a new aspect of himself. And in the process, he would find something new about himself too.


    For example, before being with Cecil, he would have never thought that he could feel so many different emotions. He always thought that his emotional world was just dull and he was not the type to laugh and feel love. But with Cecil by his side, the world seemed to shine more.

 Chapter 13 - That’s Not The Right Way To Break Up

    ¡°You really like art.¡±


    Cecil turned around with a confused expression. He had been so immersed in the painting that he hadn¡¯t heard the comment.


    ¡°You really like art,¡± Silas repeated.


    An uncomfortable look flashed in Cecil¡¯s eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t bore you, did I?¡±


    Silas shook his head and walked over to stand next to Cecil, gazing at the painting. ¡°It¡¯s fascinating to watch you look at the painting with so much joy in your eyes.¡±


    Blushing, Cecil turned his head to the side. Once he calmed his heart, he turned back and changed the subject. ¡°How do you like this painting? It¡¯s the first work of a young painter, but the emotions conveyed feel so real. I think they have a bright future ahead of them.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not bad, but even I, who doesn¡¯t understand art, feel strangely nostalgic when I look at it.¡±


    Excited, Cecil nodded without stopping. ¡°Right, I think so too.¡±


    From then on, Cecil tried to impress Silas with his knowledge of art. He showed him the best pieces and explained their meaning and composition.


    ¡°You really know a lot about art,¡± Silas praised, curious about where this love and knowledge came from.


    Scratching his nose in embarrassment over the praise, Cecil smiled sheepishly. ¡°Actually, I majored in art.¡±


    Surprised, Silas looked at him. ¡°Why so surprised?¡± Cecil puffed his cheeks.


    ¡°No, I just assumed you studied business or something like that.¡±


    Cecil scoffed at Silas¡¯s thought. ¡°You mean because of my family?¡±


    Silas nodded.


    ¡°Nah, they don¡¯t care what I do.¡±


    Cecil paused, his expression showing an internal struggle. Silas noticed and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    After hearing Silas¡¯s question, Cecil breathed out and looked at him with a mix of seriousness and a hint of shyness. ¡°The truth is, I really want to open a gallery of my own.¡±


    He laughed self-deprecatingly. ¡°But I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be good enough to do it.¡±


    Clenching his fists, Cecil waited for the expected laugh, a laugh followed by ¡®Forget about it, you don¡¯t have the brains for that!¡¯ just like Louis had said when he first shared his dream.


    But the laugh never came.


    ¡°That¡¯s a great idea. It really suits you.¡±


    Cecil looked at Silas with wide eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s ridiculous?¡±


    Silas looked at him with wonder. ¡°Why? You know so much about art and are so passionate about it that I almost get jealous.¡±


    Turning beet red, Cecil thought he had misunderstood. Silas, jealous of art? Because of him?


    ¡°Because I never chose to follow my passion.¡±


    Oh. Cecil¡¯s heart dropped. Jealous of my passion.


    Seeing the imaginary tail that was previously raised high now falling, Silas couldn¡¯t contain his laughter.


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    Cecil looked at him in confusion.


    Leaning down, Silas whispered into Cecil¡¯s ear, ¡°Of course, when I see how intently you look at the paintings, I wish you would look at me that way.¡±


    The warm breath hit Cecil¡¯s sensitive ear, and within seconds it burned. Jumping away in shock while covering his ear, Cecil looked at Silas in astonishment before frantically turning around to see if anyone nearby had heard the scandalous words.


    Noticing Cecil¡¯s accusing look, Silas just shrugged and winked, making Cecil even redder.


    After calming down, the two of them sat on a bench inside the gallery. Remembering Silas¡¯s earlier words, Cecil looked at him curiously. ¡°So what is your passion?¡± Boldly, he added, ¡°I already told you mine, so it¡¯s only fair to share yours.¡±


    Silas pretended to ponder Cecil¡¯s question with a complicated look on his face.


    Was it such a secret passion that it couldn¡¯t be shared? A thought flashed through Cecil¡¯s mind. With wide eyes, he wondered if it was something illegal.


    Knocking Cecil on the head to stop his wild thoughts, Silas opened his mouth. ¡°When I was younger, I wanted to have my own game company. I even made a few games on my own in high school.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡± Cecil looked at Silas with starry eyes. ¡°That¡¯s so cool. Why didn¡¯t you do it?¡±


    Letting his gaze wander, Silas thought of the past.


    When he was in college, money was always tight. No matter how many jobs he took, the money was spent faster than he could earn it. When he faced the decision to drop out, Louis appeared.


    Louis offered him a temporary job at his newly founded company. The money was good, and Louis seemed sincere, so he accepted.


    Once Silas was about to graduate and told Louis about his plans to work at a game studio, Louis persuaded him to stay.


    ¡°Silas, think about it. How many people want to make games? You¡¯re only a beginner, and to be honest, you¡¯re not even as good as most others. What kind of future could you have? How much money?¡±


    Louis knew that money was Silas¡¯s weak point, so when he saw Silas hesitating, he patted his back comfortingly and gave the final blow. ¡°Didn¡¯t I help you when you needed it the most?¡± Silas nodded. ¡°Just stay here with me, and you¡¯ll never have to worry about the future.¡±


    And so, Silas officially started working with Louis.


    After hearing the story, Cecil was furious. ¡°What a despicable man! Not only did he laugh at my dream, but he also persuaded you to give up yours! Hateful bull!¡±


    Seeing Cecil so angry for his sake, Silas felt warm. Cecil really was precious. Suddenly, he thought, Cecil truly deserves the best. But could he give Cecil only the best?


    Shocked, Silas froze. He was only an orphan, someone who had never really experienced love and family. How could he be sure that he would be able to give Cecil all that? How could he be sure that he wouldn¡¯t also hurt him?


    ¡°Hey Silas! Did you hear me?¡±


    Noticing a hand wave in front of him, Silas¡¯s thoughts returned to the present. He forced down the incoming doubts and smiled apologetically at Cecil. ¡°Sorry, I was absentminded. What did you say?¡±


    Internally, he scolded himself. What was that about cherishing Cecil better than Louis? He couldn¡¯t even pay attention to him when he was sitting right next to him.


    ¡°I was saying that I had a brilliant idea.¡±


    Silas tried to concentrate on Cecil¡¯s words.


    ¡°My family has a game company, so how about I recommend you to my mother? Then you could quit your job with Louis and pursue your true passion.¡±


    Cecil sneaked a look at Silas¡¯s expression. How would he react? Maybe he would be angry about going through the back door¡­


    Silas absentmindedly nodded.


    But Cecil didn¡¯t notice that something was wrong with Silas. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about going through the back door. If I recommend you to my mother, she will inspect your skills even more thoroughly than usual because she thinks I only know good-for-nothings.¡±


    Cecil laughed at Silas. ¡°So if she chooses you, it¡¯s only because you are good enough. She wouldn¡¯t just take you to make me happy.¡±


    Then he grabbed Silas¡¯s hand and pulled him to look at more paintings.


    Time flew, and soon it was evening, and they left the gallery. Although Silas didn¡¯t show it, his worries intensified.


    When they sat down on a bench in a park, it just broke out of him. ¡°Cecil, I think we are not suited for each other.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Cecil thought he had misheard Silas, but the other was staring at him with a solemn look. ¡°Why? I thought everything was going well-¡±


    A thousand thoughts swirled in his head, but he could grasp none of them. I¡¯m not good enough for you. I made you cry even though I promised myself I wouldn¡¯t. Maybe I can¡¯t love you enough. I¡¯m only using you to not be alone.


    But none of these worries left his lips. Instead, one of the crudest excuses ever left his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m a bottom, and so are you. We simply aren¡¯t compatible.¡±


    Cecil looked at him in bewilderment. Seeing his face full of confusion, Silas looked away in guilt.


    Cecil, on the other hand, felt desperate. Just when he thought he wouldn¡¯t mind leaving all feelings for Louis behind and wanted to love Silas wholeheartedly, the other was backing away.


    When he heard Silas¡¯s reason, Cecil almost wanted to sink into a hole in the earth. He had sworn to himself that he would never tell Silas about his dream, but right now, it felt like if he didn¡¯t say it, Silas would go away, and he would never have a chance to catch him again.


    So despite his embarrassment, he grabbed Silas¡¯s head with both hands and screamed, ¡°I had a wet dream where I topped you!¡±


    The echo of the sentence resonated through the luckily empty street. With a burning face, Cecil whispered, ¡°So even if I don¡¯t look like it, I think I¡¯m a top. Problem solved, right?¡±


    He looked at Silas with hopeful eyes.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not the point, I-¡±


    ¡°Silas,¡± Cecil grabbed his face harder, desperation in his eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve only known each other for such a short while, why not give it more time? What kind of problems could there be that we can¡¯t overcome? I mean, we overcame the biggest one called Louis.¡± Cecil tried to joke, but his voice cracked.


    Silas grabbed Cecil¡¯s hands that were on his cheeks and gently took them down. Looking at Cecil¡¯s clear eyes, which were brimming with tears, the words just flowed out of his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not good enough for you. You deserve love, someone who looks at you with eyes so full of love just like your own. Someone who can make you happy, a family¡­¡±


    He let go of Cecil¡¯s hands. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m able to give you what you deserve.¡±


    But Cecil grabbed Silas¡¯s hands instead, his grip firm and unwavering. ¡°I also don¡¯t know if you can give me what I deserve, and I also don¡¯t know anymore what a happy family is. It certainly won¡¯t be easy to be with me, but why would you give up before we even tried? If I feel like you won¡¯t treat me right, then I promise you I¡¯ll break up with you.¡±


    Cecil looked into Silas¡¯s eyes, his voice steady despite the tears. ¡°But how am I supposed to break up with you if we aren¡¯t even together yet?¡±


    Holding Cecil¡¯s hands, Silas felt the warmth they brought him. Looking into Cecil¡¯s eyes, he saw determination and confidence, lighting a small flame of hope in his chest. Gripping Cecil¡¯s hands tighter, he made up his mind. ¡°Promise me that you will break up if I can¡¯t make you happy anymore.¡±


    Showing Silas an ugly smile, a smile mixed with tears and snot, Cecil promised. ¡°I promise.¡±


    ¡°There, there, don¡¯t cry anymore.¡± Wiping Cecil¡¯s face with a handkerchief, Silas thought of how he could cheer him up. ¡°So, let¡¯s go to the cinema tomorrow evening, alright?¡±


    Cecil¡¯s eyes sparkled with happiness. With a big smile, he hugged Silas and lifted his head to meet his gaze. ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll pick you up, okay?¡±


    Hugging Cecil back, Silas replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡ª THE END ¡ª