Ethan's mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear, the weight of Lucas's presence suffocating. The closeness, the intensity of the moment—everything about it made it impossible for him to think straight. His gaze shifted from Lucas's face to the floor, unable to hold the mesmerizing, dangerous stare that seemed to see right through him.
Lucas, however, was consumed by a storm of anger he didn't fully understand. The sight of Ethan's flushed face, his nervous stammering, and his unexpected fondness for Dimitri ignited something violent within him. He hated the feeling bubbling inside—something too close to jealousy. And yet, he couldn't admit to himself that there was anything to be jealous of.
With a voice tight from suppressed rage, Lucas finally broke the silence. "Do you like me too, Ethan?"
Ethan's eyes widened, his breath hitching in his throat. The question hung in the air like a weight, heavy and suffocating. His face flushed an even deeper red, and he found himself unable to form coherent words.
"I—I think I... do…" Ethan managed to stammer, but the words felt foreign, barely audible. He could hardly process the situation, let alone give a real answer.
For a brief moment, Lucas's expression softened, a flicker of something almost tender crossing his face. He leaned in, and before Ethan could react, Lucas's lips brushed against his in a light, fleeting kiss. It was unexpectedly gentle.
Ethan froze, his heart pounding, his eyes closing instinctively. The kiss ended as quickly as it began, but it left Ethan reeling, his mind racing, his pulse erratic.
Lucas pulled back slightly, studying Ethan's flushed face with an unreadable expression. "You're not very good at hiding your feelings, are you?" His tone was a strange mix of amusement and something darker.
Ethan leaned against the wall, his legs weak, still trying to make sense of what had just happened. The kiss, the proximity, Lucas's overpowering presence—it left him dizzy, disoriented.
Lucas watched him for another moment before stepping back, his anger still simmering beneath the surface. But he masked it with a smile, warm and cold at the same time. "Think carefully about what you do next, Ethan," Lucas warned, his voice softer but no less threatening. "You don't want to get hurt... especially if you have such a 'fondness' for Dimitri."
He said it with casual menace, though the truth gnawed at him. If he ever saw something between Ethan and Dimitri—anything close to romantic—he knew he wouldn't be able to control himself.
Without waiting for a response, Lucas turned and headed for the door, leaving Ethan standing alone in the dim classroom, his thoughts a chaotic mess of fear, embarrassment, and something dangerously close to desire.
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As Lucas turned and walked toward the door, Ethan's initial impulse was to follow, desperate to understand what the figure thought of him or what that kiss represented . His heart pounded with a mixture of anxiety and curiosity, and he took a step forward, ready to chase after Lucas.
However, in his haste, Ethan's foot caught on the edge of a stray chair, sending him sprawling across the floor. He landed with a thud, his face burning with embarrassment. He lay there for a moment, stunned by his own clumsiness, his hands instinctively covering his face as he tried to hide his tomato-red cheeks from view.
The fall had knocked the breath out of him, and he lay still, his face pressed into the cool floor, heart racing from both the physical impact and the emotional turmoil. The humiliation of falling and the sudden realization of Lucas's kiss made his cheeks flush an even deeper shade of red. He could only imagine how foolish he must have looked, and the thought made him cringe further.
The sound of Lucas's footsteps grew fainter, but Ethan remained where he was, too mortified to move. The room felt too quiet, the only sound his own ragged breathing and the distant echo of Lucas's departure. Ethan's mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, from his feelings for Dimitri to the unsettling, intense encounter with Lucas.
After a few moments, Ethan dared to lift his hands from his face, his eyes peeking out cautiously. The classroom seemed emptier now, the weight of the moment settling heavily on his shoulders. With a deep breath, he slowly pushed himself up from the floor, trying to regain his composure despite the lingering flush on his face and the sting of embarrassment.
The realization of how close he had come to th school's beauty,combined with the fall and the kiss, left Ethan feeling disoriented and vulnerable. He glanced toward the door, wishing he could rewind the moment and handle it differently, but knowing that wouldn't change anything now.
With a sigh, Ethan pushed himself to his feet, his face still burning but his resolve hardening.
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As Lucas emerged from the dimly lit corridor, he saw Dimitri leaning casually against the doorframe, his back arched slightly, head tilted back as he gazed up at the ceiling. The posture was relaxed, but there was a tension in his demeanor that Lucas could sense even from a distance.
Dimitri's eyes remained closed, his face a mask of calm. He was completely aware of Lucas's approach but refused to open his eyes until Lucas was standing in front of him.When Dimitri finally turned his head, his eyes met Lucas's with an unreadable expression— detachment that masked his true feelings.
Without a word, Dimitri began to push off the wall, his movements smooth and deliberate as he prepared to leave. But before he could take more than a step, Lucas, fueled by a sudden surge of frustration and possessiveness, crossed the distance between them with a few swift strides.
In a burst of motion, Lucas grabbed Dimitri by the arm, his grip fierce and unyielding. His fingers dug into Dimitri's skin with a force that made Dimitri wince slightly, though he maintained his composure. Lucas's face was inches from Dimitri's, his expression a storm of anger and confusion.
"What are you doing here?" Lucas's voice was a harsh whisper, laced with frustration. The intensity of his gaze bore into Dimitri, searching for answers that seemed to elude him. "Why are you just standing around?"
Dimitri's eyes, now wide open and locked onto Lucas, revealed nothing of his thoughts. He held Lucas's gaze with a steady calm, his own expression unreadable. For a moment, the hallway seemed to contract around them, the tension between them palpable.
"Let go," Dimitri said quietly, his voice controlled but firm. He didn't pull away immediately, instead waiting for Lucas to release his grip. The calmness in his demeanor made Lucas seeth with frustration.
Lucas, however, didn't relent. His fingers tightened their hold, unwilling to let go. The frustration of the earlier encounter with Ethan, combined with his perplexing feelings toward Dimitri, made his grip almost desperate.
Dimitri's gaze remained steady, and after a tense pause, he finally said, "Lucas, you're making a scene."
Lucas's anger flared, but he forced himself to take a breath, the reality of the situation slowly sinking in. The strength of his grip softened, but he didn't entirely release Dimitri. Instead, he stood there, his face close to Dimitri's, searching for some sign of vulnerability or truth that could explain the dissonance he felt.
Lucas's eyes darkened with a dangerous glint as he loomed over Dimitri. His fingers dug deeper into Dimitri's arm, his grip no longer a warning but a threat. The cool indifference on Dimitri's face only fed Lucas's rage, a storm brewing just beneath his skin.
"You're really trying my patience," Lucas hissed, voice dripping with menace. He pulled Dimitri closer, their faces now inches apart. "Standing there like none of this matters… like I'm not right in front of you."
Dimitri's calm, almost unbothered expression infuriated Lucas. He knew Dimitri could feel his anger, see the tension in every muscle of his body, but still, Dimitri gave him nothing. It was as if the taller man was mocking him with his silence, his refusal to flinch.
"You think I care about you?" Lucas's tone sharpened, dangerously low. His blue eyes glinted with something dark, twisted. "You think just because I'm here, that means something?" He said that more to himself ,his grip tightened to the point of pain, and for the first time, Dimitri's expression faltered, a flicker of discomfort crossing his features. It wasn't enough. Lucas wanted to see him break.
When Dimitri said nothing, just staring back with those calm, infuriating eyes, Lucas snapped. His free hand shot out, grabbing Dimitri's chin in a bruising grip, forcing him to meet his gaze directly.
"Don't look at me like that." His voice was deadly quiet, a thin thread holding back violence. "Don't you dare act like you think I *like* you." He spat the word with venom, as if the idea alone disgusted him. But it was a lie—Lucas knew it was more complicated than that, and it made him even angrier.
He shoved Dimitri hard against the wall, the sound of the impact echoing in the narrow hallway. Dimitri winced, his composure slipping just a fraction, but he still didn't protest. His silence, his unshakable calm—it all drove Lucas to the edge.
"You think you've figured me out?" Lucas snarled, his face close to Dimitri's now. "You think I won't hurt you if you keep playing this game?" His voice lowered into a dangerous growl. "If you're waiting for me to be *nice* to you, you're in for a rude awakening."
Dimitri's lips parted, as if he might speak, but Lucas was quicker. He slammed him back against the wall again, more forceful this time, rage boiling over. The impact rattled through Dimitri's body, and Lucas leaned in, his breath hot and furious against Dimitri's neck.
"Say something," Lucas demanded, his tone now a thin line between taunting and desperate. He hated this—hated how Dimitri got under his skin without even doing anything .And the worst part was that Dimitri *knew* it. Lucas could see it in his eyes. He wasn't scared, he wasn't rattled, and it made Lucas want to tear him apart.
When Dimitri remained silent, a calm that felt like an insult, Lucas's fury snapped. His fist came up, crashing against the wall right beside Dimitri's head with enough force to crack the plaster. The sound reverberated, and finally, Dimitri's eyes widened slightly, just a hint of surprise.
Lucas's breathing was ragged now, his chest heaving as he glared down at the man beneath him. "I'll kill you before I let you think I care,I don't know what that was the other night but I'll never let it happen again." he growled, his voice laced with violent intent. His fist hovered in the air, trembling with the force of his barely contained anger.
Dimitri, despite everything, finally spoke—his voice low and calm, but there was something else there now, something Lucas couldn't quite place. "You could hide behind this mask of rage but I know."
Lucas's eyes darkened, a twisted, dangerous glint appearing in them. He didn't know why he was saying these things, but he couldn't stop himself. The anger, the jealousy, the confusion—it all boiled over.
"You're not fooling anyone, Lucas," Dimitri said softly, his voice still calm, though his arm ached from Lucas's grip.
For a moment, Lucas faltered. Dimitri's words struck something deep within him, something he wasn't ready to face. His hand loosened, his gaze dropping as a sense of weakness washed over him.
This wasn't him. Not like this.
He released Dimitri, stepping back, suddenly unsure of what to do next.