Declan groaned in pain when he woke up. His head was spinning, and he almost saw everything in double.
Shit! He really was drunk, wasn't he?
Declan sincerely wished he could forget the sweet smile and gleaming eyes of Nicholas Larson through drunken himself to death. But… the result was quite the opposite. He even wanted to see that smile one more time.
Hhhh… Declan let out a very long sigh realizing that he couldn't back down anymore.
Is there really no cure for his absurd preference? Is he now officially gay?
Then what about Kaylee?
Declan remembered he was also attracted to the girl and did not mind if his mother decided to marry him off to her.
Declan looks back on his moments when he was with Roe, and nothing could match his pounding heart when he compared it to Nick's smile.
He massaged his temples with both hands because he felt dizzy. Declan couldn't tell either he felt dizzy because he was drunk or dizzy thinking about the possibility that he was gay.
After calming himself down, Declan got up from the bed and realized that he was already in his room. Since when did he come home? Could it be that Axelard brought him home?
Luckily he contacted the man right before he lost his mind. If there were someone he could count on and put all his trust in, Axelard Cavendish would be the first person he would contact.
Declan walked out of the room to get some drinking water because he felt his throat felt dry. He was sure that Axel had come home and that now he was in the apartment alone.
But as he sipped his drink, a familiar voice sounded from the edge of his apartment door.
"Oh, you're awake?"
Declan was not at all surprised how Axel could enter his apartment without telling him. The man already knew the code for his apartment door, and it was Axel's habit to go in and out of his house without announcement.
"Thank you for driving me home."
"Anything for my beloved." Axel's answer made Declan frown in disgust.
"What was that for?"
"Don't you remember what happened a few hours ago?"
Declan tried to dig into his memory when he was drunk, and a series of images in his head popping up as if he was watching a video playing. For a moment, Declan froze in place and didn't budge. But seconds later, he burst out laughing, making Axel perplexed.
"Sorry, it looks like I've become a jerk."
"You have no idea. Anyway, is it true that you fell in love with the same sex?"
"I don't know."
"What happened?"
"There is this boy. He's a freshman at my campus."
"Then? What he did make you fall in love with him?"
What did Nick do to make him flutter? The answer is nothing. The young man did not seduce him nor approach him. But all Nick did was smile and express his heart so sincerely that it could touch his most hidden heart.
"No. I'm not in love with him. Just a momentary feeling, I'm sure it will fade with time." Declan said it with great confidence. "Do you know the Larsons?"
"Larson? Do you mean the family restaurant Larson and their daughter was a songwriter in this city? Yeah, I know them. What about them?"
"Is it possible that before their current success, they had experienced poverty or something?"
Axelard looked thoughtful for a moment, then shook his head. "The Larsons are old rich people. Mr. Larson is the third generation of Old Larson seniors. They never lived in poverty. Why do you ask?"
"Sometimes, I wonder how you can memorize the background of the wealthy family in this country."
"Hey, is your question just to test my vast knowledge?"
Declan rolled his eyes, hearing his best friend's narcism. Then he got lost in his thoughts.
He began to wonder about the mysterious kid who accompanied him in Barcelona. Declan felt sure that the child was a girl and came from an underprivileged family.
The kid never complained about her... or his family's economy, but sometimes the kid would complain that he had to distribute flyers to earn some pocket money.
If Nicholas Larson had never lived a life of poverty, how could that young man need more money?
Nicholas Larson wasn't the one who saved him. Declan's hopes were high because he was sure that he would not be affected by the boy's charisma after this.
But… The young man recognized the song and admitted that he created it. The boy even said that the song he composed was awful and had never been shown to anyone else… that was precisely what his savior said.
Then, Declan recalled how the young man smiled and looked at the music sheet's writing with passion and adoration. Without realizing it, his heart was beating fast again, making him put his drink glass on the kitchen table.
"I'm so dead."
"Ha? What? What happened?" Axel became even more confused at Declan's pained expression.
What now??
"I'm trying to get his face out of my mind, but that damn smile and his eyes keep coming back. Well, he had cute dimples when he smiled." strangely enough, Declan said the last words with a gentle smile.
Axelard became motionless in his place. Is it a dream? It's hard to accept that his best friend… his dearest best friend, praises someone's smile. And that person isn't a girl but… a boy!?
"I think... I should go home now." Axelard rose to his feet slowly, but he sat back down when he saw Declan glancing at him with his eagle gaze.
Huhuhu… He could never refuse hidden orders from the eagle eyes of his best friend. His eyes radiance so sharp it was almost the same as Falcon, his white eagle pet.
"Just go. I guess I need to cool my head for a bit." came the resignation tone from Declan.
"Are you alright?"
"You think? I feel sure I'm a straight guy, but…"
"So it was shocking news for you as well. Is that why you ended up drinking alone this evening?"
"…"
"What about Miss Zouch? Besides, your mother has already arranged for you to her. Try calling her and meeting her. Maybe there is something about her that will make you neutralize your feelings."
Will Declan take his best friend's suggestion?