"From now on, don't call me by my name anymore." Kian's voice was stern as he looked at Yohan.
"Call me brother-in-law."
Yohan's confusion was palpable as he tried to make sense of the strange request.
"H-huh? But why, Kian?" Yohan asked hesitantly, his words coming out almost as a whisper.
Kian's response was muttered but still audible to Yohan. "That'll be a reminder for me..."
The two men stood there in silence for a few moments before Kian turned towards Yohan and spoke again.
"Just listen to my words." Kian said, his voice low and commanding.
Feeling somewhat intimidated by Kian's sudden change in demeanor, Yohan could only nod obediently. Without waiting for any further questions or objections from Yohan, Kian walked away, leaving him alone standing there in confusion once more.
*
*
As memories of his past life flooded back into his mind, it taking him back to several months after he had been married. Since then, he had taken to calling Kian "brother-in-law" as a sign of respect between them.
It was an odd habit that stuck with him through the years, but one that felt right somehow. And so whenever Yohan thought of Kian since they met again in this life, he couldn't help but refer to him as 'that man'. It was better than accidentally calling him brother-in-law and making things even more chaotic.
Yohan's mind was lost in a haze of memories from his past life, causing his brows to furrow and confusion to cloud his thoughts. Kian took notice of this, mistaking Yohan's expression for sadness due to being rejected by him earlier. An uncharacteristic feeling of guilt washed over Kian as he observed the young man before him.
Kian couldn't help but feel strange about how much he cared about Yohan's well-being despite barely knowing him. There was something inexplicably familiar about the young man that stirred emotions within Kian, unfamiliar feelings of protectiveness and concern that went beyond anything he had ever experienced before.
He found himself reflecting on what had happened between them thus far. If it were anyone else who approached him like this... the cold and unapproachable Kian would have thrown them away without hesitation.
Kian was still grappling with his emotions, trying to make sense of the inexplicable connection he felt towards Yohan. Just as it had been back in the elevator, he couldn't understand why he felt so protective of this young man, even going as far as to shield him from a pervert despite they were complete strangers.
Even when Yohan grabbed at his chest and butts, Kian didn't feel angry or violated; instead, he was amused by what was happening between them. And the way those beautiful eyes looked up at him... the deep feelings reflected within them when Kian asked if Yohan liked him...
As much as Kian tried to deny it, all these coincidences seemed too intentional to be mere chance encounters. Perhaps Yohan had been following him around all along?
Despite pondering over these thoughts all night long, Kian still wasn't certain on how to proceed with regards to Yohan. As these thoughts raced through his mind, Kian realized with a jolt that rejecting Yohan before he could confess his feelings might lessen the young man's heartache.
Even though Kian didn't know how old Yohan was exactly, the boy looked like a teenager and this only added to his desire to reject Yohan from old man like him.
Kian's heart stung as he contemplated these thoughts, but he ignored the feeling. He reached into his coat pocket and took out a business card before placing it on the table in front of Yohan.
"I may not be able to accept you" Kian said with a firm voice, "But I have a good impression of you."
Yohan felt baffled by Kian's words. Did acting like a pervert really leave such an impression? A lot of question marks lingered in Yohan's mind as he tried to make sense of what had just transpired between them.
"And I hope we don't become strangers," Kian said softly. "This is my private number. If you have any problems, I promise to help you."
In his heart, Kian knew that he didn't want to lose touch with Yohan. The idea of compensating him for breaking his heart floated through his mind, but deep down he knew it wasn't just about guilt. There was something there... something worth holding onto.
As Yohan pondered over how to fix their misunderstanding, he suddenly stopped himself when he heard Kian's words, realizing that perhaps there was no need to rectify anything at all. So, what did it matter if Kian misunderstood? After all, he had already been rejected so there was nothing more to lose.
What mattered now was the promise of help from Kian if any problems arose in the future. It was important for Yohan to have connections that could help him overcome any challenges he might face. Kian looked genuinely remorseful for rejecting Yohan and offered his assistance out of guilt. Why not take advantage of this situation? It would be foolish not to utilize such a valuable resource.
With this thought in mind, Yohan instinctively covered his face with his hands and let out a small sob, pretending to be heartbroken by Kian's rejection even though he hadn't actually confessed yet. It was something he had learned from past experiences watching soap opera dramas while locked up in his home - Yohan now played the part of the heartbroken protagonist.
"Thank you..." Yohan spoke softly, his voice carrying a tinge of sadness. "You're very kind even though you rejected me..."
Yohan paused for effect before continuing. "You're right, I really liked you a long time ago when you were still an athlete. When I found out that you were living in the room in front of mine...I subconsciously..."
He deliberately trailed off without finishing his sentence, allowing the weight of unspoken words to sink in.
Yohan's hand slowly picked up Kian's card from the table as he thanked him again.
Kian felt another pang of guilt at seeing Yohan so sad, but there was also fear lurking within him, fear about what those feelings meant for both him and Yohan.
"I hope when you like someone else in the future..." Kian spoke softly with understanding. "You don't do this again. You might get arrested by the police for stalking and harassment."
Yohan's throat tightened, his voice trembling with embarrassment as he replied briefly, "I understand..."
Kian breathed a sigh of relief at having gotten through to Yohan. He knew it was important to teach him that such actions were criminal.
And yet, Yohan couldn't help but think about the multiple misunderstandings that had plagued their interactions since they met again in this life.
Huhu...so in this second life, the misunderstanding I have to bear is being labeled as a pervert stalking my crush?!
The thought made him want to scream out loud, how could fate be so cruel? But for now, all he could do was agree to everything Kian said and try not to let these emotions consume him entirely.