The roads were dark and empty under the velvet cloak of night, an expanse of asphalt that seemed to stretch into infinity. Autumn had arrived, yet the air was surprisingly mild, a gentle breeze whispering through the trees that straddled the roadside. As Kian maneuvered the car through the winding streets, every bump and turn felt like a little secret shared between him and Leo, a connection deepening with each passing moment, especially after their habitual arguments that now felt more like a dance than a clash.
Leo leaned back against the plush leather seat, his breath hitching slightly as he took in Kian's effortless confidence behind the wheel. It was a sight he had never expected to witness; Kian, often wrapped in the cocoon of luxury and responsibility, now exuding a rare joy that was catching.
After a contemplative silence, Leo broke the stillness. "If you can drive a car, why are you always with a driver?" His curiosity had bubbled over, coaxed by the thrill of the moment.
Kian looked over with a playful grin, glancing briefly at Leo before returning his gaze to the road. "So that I can think at ease," he replied, the hint of mischief in his tone.
The two-seater car was a vibrant shade of yellow, a stark contrast to the monochrome night, and Leo couldn't help but marvel at it. "By the way," he said, eyes alight with wonder, "I've never seen you in this car before. Well … I can guess what brand it is," he teased, refraining from naming it outright.
Kian chuckled. "But I don't want to guess the price," Leo continued with a mock-serious expression. "That would ruin my mood right now."
Kian's smile widened, the corners of his eyes crinkling with delight. "Did you like it?" he asked, as if he were revealing a grand secret.
"Did I like it?" Leo laughed, the sound pure and unrestrained. "A guy in the world who wouldn't wish this car probably wasn't born or isn't alive anymore!"
The air between them was electric, filled with laughter and unspoken truths. Kian took a moment before responding, his voice softening. "You didn't need to wish. You can drive as long as you want."
Those words landed softly in Leo's chest, surprising him in a way that conjured both confusion and warmth. It was an unexpected invitation, a gesture of freedom that made his pulse quicken. He glanced around, taking in the warm glow of the interior and the moonlight spilling through the open roof.
And then he saw it—the top of the car slowly retracting, revealing the vast expanse of starlit sky above. A sense of wonder washed over him, and without thinking, he raised his hands in the air and closed his eyes, surrendering to the exciting rush.
Kian, still smiling, kept his focus on the road, feeling the joy come from Leo, recognizing it as a inspiration that illuminated their connection. In that moment, within the darkened landscape and the soft hum of the engine, they were adventurers, sailing through unknown territories of trust and newfound possibilities, each moment unveiling another layer of their intertwined destinies.
The house welcomed as Kian and Leo stepped inside, exhaustion weighing heavily on their shoulders. Kian blinked away his fatigue, memories of the day fading and giving way to an unwelcome realization.
"I'll take a shower and sleep; tomorrow is the first stage of the Olympiads," Leo muttered.
"What time is it?" he asked, rubbing his eyes as the remnants of adrenaline ebbed away.
"I should be there at eight," he replied, his voice hoarse with fatigue.
"Okay. Get some rest," Kian said, stifling a yawn.
It was midnight—the hour when the world outside lay silent, but Leo's mind refused to yield to that same stillness. He was used to waking in the early hours, finding comfort in the quiet before dawn. As the clock ticked to three, his body stirred. He slipped out of bed, a routine fixed in him, only to find his glass empty.
Slipping into the dim light of the kitchen, he filled it with water, the coolness refreshing against the heat of the night. As he returned to his room, a sound caught his attention—moaning, soft yet laden with pain, emanating from Kian's room. His heart clenched.
Worry pushed him forward, and Leo knocked gently on her door, twice, his unease spreading like wildfire. "Kian?" No answer came. The moaning continued. Gripped by instinct, he turned the knob and stepped inside.
The sight that greeted him tightened his chest. Kian lay in bed, his brows furrowed, sweat glistening on his forehead, his face contorted in a silent battle against whatever demons plagued his slumber. He was trapped in a nightmare, helpless and lost. Leo approached cautiously, every instinct screaming for him to help.
"No…No…" Kian murmured as if sensing his presence without waking.
Without thinking, Leo reached out, lightly smacking his arm, trying to jolt his from the abyss. "Kian, wake up." Nothing changed; his moaning persisted, a melodic echo of distress. Panic surged within Leo, and he closed the distance, gripping his arms and giving him a shake.
Suddenly, his eyes shot open, wide and glazed, and for that fleeting moment, Leo saw his as he truly was: vulnerable, innocent, lost in a world that felt impossibly weighty. He sat up, blinking into consciousness, struggling to piece together fragments of reality.
Leo handed him the glass he had set on the dresser, but his fingers trembled, the simple act of drinking suddenly monumental. Without a word, Leo lifted the glass to his lips, coaxing him to take a few sips.
"Are you good?" Leo asked, concern wrapping around his words.
He looked at him, his eyes shimmering with an unspoken plea—a raw, desperate desire for help that made Leo's heart ache.
"It's nothing. Just a nightmare. You're fine now," Leo said, desperate to calm him. "I'm here."
He turned, intending to get a towel to help wipe the sweat from his brow, but just as he stood, Kian hand gripped his wrist, a fragile plea laced in his voice.
"Don't go," Kian said, his words barely above a whisper, slow and laden with exhaustion. A palpable tension filled the air, and Leo felt the haunting weight of vulnerability tether him to the moment.
'I'm not going,' Leo said. The urge to comfort was overpowering; to let him know he wasn't alone.
After a prolonged silence, Kian patted the empty space beside him twice, an invitation that resonated with a mix of fear and longing. Leo's instincts fought against the request. Sharing a bed felt too intimate, too charged with meaning. They had been through hell and back, but was this crossing a line?
Yet, as he searched Kian's face, searching for reasons to say no, all he could feel was the rotting regret of countless moments passed in loneliness. Kian had never left Leo to face his demons alone; how could he turn away from his?
Without uttering a word, Leo slipped under the covers beside him, a cautious comfort in an unbearable world. Kian rested his head on the pillow, his breath gradually stabilizated, while Leo pulled the blanket over him. He lay beside Kian, closed his eyes, and let the quiet seep into his bones, hoping they could drown out the nightmares together.
Kian opened his eyes to the shrill cry of the alarm, its sound echoing in the quiet morning air. Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a soft glow across the room, but the world outside still had that hazy, dreamlike quality of dawn. He groggily glanced at his phone; the clock read 06:30.
Turning to his right, he found Leo peacefully asleep beside him, his chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm. For a moment, Kian paused, lost in thought. Memories of the previous night flooded his mind. A smile crept onto his lips, one that was entirely for Leo, who remained blissfully unaware of Kian's analysis.
Kian leaned in slightly, studying Leo's face, tracing the contours of his features in his mind like an artist capturing the essence of their muse. The way the light danced across his cheekbone, the slight curl of his lips even in sleep—each detail ignited a warmth in Kian's chest. He yearned to reach out, to brush his fingers against that soft skin, but something held him back. It felt too intimate, too fragile a moment to disrupt.
Then, an unexpected sound broke through his reverie—the familiar chime of the house password. The housemaid had arrived. Kian felt a twinge of disappointment and collected his thoughts, forcing himself to rise from the warmth of the bed.
He grabbed his phone and set five alarms, all spaced within minutes of each other, placing it gently next to Leo's head. Satisfied with his planning, Kian slipped out of the room and made his way to the bathroom.
The first alarm sounded just as he splashed water on his face, its piercing tone echoing through the house. Leo sat up on the bed, the lingering warmth of yesterday's moments with Kian still faintly woven into his thoughts. As he swung his legs over the side of the bed, the promise of a new day tinged with drowsiness beckoned.
The air of the house felt different this morning; it buzzed with an understated sense of purpose. Passing through the hallway, he caught a glimpse of the housemaid bustling in the kitchen.
"You came early today," Leo said, his voice breaking the serene silence.
"Last night, Mr. Kian asked me to prepare breakfast early, he said your exam will be early," the housemaid replied with a warm smile.
A rush of realization struck him—Kian had called for the maid's help on his behalf. Though he had almost forgotten the countless jests Kian made for him, this one pierced through the fog of their routine. Leo returned to his room, a gentle smile curving his lips as he changed into fresh clothes and ran a hand through his hair, remembering how much he appreciated Kian's thoughtfulness.
In the main room, the aroma of breakfast mingled with the last remnants of sleep still clinging to him. Kian sat at the table, dressed smartly, as though he were ready for today. They exchanged morning greetings; the warmth of their bond evident in every syllable.
"How do you feel?" Leo asked, taking his seat across from Kian.
"I'm better thanks to you," Kian shot back, his voice infused with a lightness that belied any morning struggle.
"It's your exam today too—be careful when reading the questions, and be sure to go over them again before you hand in your paper," Leo advised, though he could sense that Kian's focus was scattered.
A glimmer of worry crossed Kian's face as Leo added, "If you don't do well in math, your grandma will replace me."
Kian looked up, his expression sharpening as the slight shot made its mark. A smile blossomed on Leo's face; a playful assurance meant to lighten the mood.
"It won't happen. I never forget or let go of anyone who taught me anything," Kian replied, his voice holding a determination that filled Leo with pride.
Then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, Leo quipped, "Then tell me the name of the math teacher from last year?"
"Let's eat quickly, we need to go," Kian said, deflecting the question with a grin that mirrored Leo's own.
It was already noon when Kian exited the classroom, a mix of triumph and relief swelling within him. The exam had felt like a mountain, but as he glanced at the clock, he realized three hours had flown by in a blur of concentration. He fished out his phone, eager to share the news, but when he dialed Leo's number, the call went silent.
Kian made his way down the winding stairs, the familiar corridor stretching out before him like a path leading to uncertainty. He reached their shared room, and as the door swung open, he was greeted by a sight that made his heart lift: Leo lounged on the sofa, a smile breaking across his face as he spotted Kian.
"I'm on to the next stage!" Leo announced, his voice brimming with excitement. Kian felt a grin spread across his own face. "Congrats!" he replied, clapping Leo on the shoulder.
"How was your exam?" Leo's curiosity was evident, his eyes wide with anticipation.
"It wasn't difficult. We had practiced similar questions, so I think I did alright," Kian said, a sense of pride fueling his words.
"Great to hear!" Leo exclaimed; his enthusiasm contagious. "I'm headed to the cafeteria for some food. See you later!"
"Let's eat together," he suggested.
Leo's brow furrowed in confusion. "Wait, you want to go to the cafeteria?"
"Well…There's a restaurant nearby. Let's go eat there and celebrate today!" Kian urged; his voice filled with a newfound determination.
After a moment's hesitation, Leo's expression softened, and he nodded. "Alright, let's do it! A celebration sounds perfect!"
As they strolled down the corridor, Leo felt a sudden presence before him. Harry stood there, an eager smile stretching across his face. "How are you, Leo?" he inquired, enthusiasm lighting up his eyes.
"I'm good," Leo replied, albeit with a slight hesitation.
Harry nodded, his eyes sparkling with genuine interest. "I'm fine too. Where are you heading?"
"There's a restaurant nearby; going to eat," Leo said, trying to maintain a cheerful tone despite the slight dread creeping into his stomach.
Kian felt a knot tightening at the back of his mind. He could almost predict the trajectory of this conversation.
"I'm hungry too, actually," Harry chimed in, a flicker of hope dancing on his face.
Kian tried to suppress his irritation. "Go eat where you always do," he shot back, annoyance weaving through his words.
Harry shrugged. "Well, I won't bother you," he replied.
"You can come with us if you don't mind," said Leo.
A surge of delight crossed Harry's face, making that irritating knot in Kian's chest tighten further. "Then let's go!" Harry exclaimed, stepping forward with an eagerness that almost bordered on infectious.
Kian shot a questioning glance at Leo, a silent plea for understanding. "Why did you call him?" his eyes demanded.
"Strengthening my connections," Leo replied simply, trailing after Harry.
Kian huffed under his breath but followed nonetheless, unwilling to make a scene. As they reached the schoolyard, Leo was hailed by Alex, who stood alongside Mary, a sunny smile on his face.
"How was the Olympiad, Leo?" Alex asked, genuine curiosity etched in his features.
"It was great! How were your exams?" Leo volleyed back; a friendly tone juxtaposed against Kian's simmering irritation.
"They weren't bad," Alex replied, his eyes flickering to Kian, who stood sullenly beside Leo, arms crossed.
Kian felt the weight of their gazes, a strange silence warming the air. Alex and Mary stood awkwardly, uncertain as they'd never been this close to Kian before—the perennial shadow outshined by his friends' more vibrant personalities.
Sensing the tension, Leo made the introduction. "This is Alex and Mary. And this is Kian."
Kian offered a curt nod, his expression unreadable. Breaking through the strained atmosphere, Kian's voice emerged unexpectedly. "We're going to eat. Do you want to join us?"
Leo's eyebrows shot up in surprise; he hadn't expected Kian to extend the invitation. Alex and Mary exchanged glances, ambiguity swirling between them, but ultimately accepted, curiosity getting the better of them.
Harry led the way, and reluctantly, the others followed, settling into Harry's car. Kian slid in his own car, next to Leo.
"I didn't expect you would invite them. Why?" Leo leaned in, fastening his seatbelt as he whispered, a mixture of disbelief and intrigue coloring his tone.
"I want to meet your friends," Kian replied matter-of-factly, his gaze fixed straight ahead, but there was something in his tone that hinted at more, something deeper than mere curiosity.
And as they drove toward the restaurant, the air pulsed with a strange blend of tension and anticipation, the hum of the engine matching the rhythm of unwritten possibilities before them.