The moment Yohan stepped into his apartment and closed the door behind him, he felt a brief moment of peace before a thunderous bang on the door shattered the silence. It was almost midnight, and the sudden commotion sent a pang of guilt through him for disturbing his neighbors' peace.
He hastily opened the door to find Jun and Landon standing on his doorstep, their faces alight with an almost manic energy. They barged past him without invitation, their eyes gleaming with gossip – though Landon's usual eagerness seemed tempered by a palpable worry that tugged at his brow.
While Landon usually couldn't resist a juicy tidbit, his worry lines were deeper tonight than usual - someone taking advantage of their own precious cabbage (child)!
"Aaahhhhhh!!!!" Landon exclaimed, his voice laced with horror as he gripped Yohan's shoulders and scrutinized his face. "His lips are swollen... Yohan was tainted in just a few hours!!!" He shook Yohan's body violently, amplifying the absurdity of his statement.
Jun whistled appreciatively from beside him, eyes wide with amusement.
"I was just jokingly telling you not to come home," Jun said with a smirk, "but even though you came back, you still managed to get into some naughty business."
Yohan felt his head spin from the sudden onslaught of attention and Landon's vigorous shaking. He couldn't help but feel a mixture of amusement and exasperation at their antics. His parents... ahem... his friends... had truly outdone themselves this time.
"Hey, hey, I was just kissing! Nothing more."
Landon's grip on Yohan's arms tightened.
"Yohan, which guy is that?! You can't just kiss someone you've known for a short time!"
Landon felt a pang of frustration as he remembered the conversation with Jun earlier. Jun mention that Yohan was meeting someone he seemed to like, but Landon wasn't entirely convinced. Especially when he asked Jun if Yohan had explicitly stated his feelings for this person, only to receive a nonchalant response from Jun while they waited for Yohan.
"Huh? Yohan didn't say anything," Jun replied casually. "I just saw the look in his eyes... it's obvious he likes that man."
Landon kicked out at Jun in annoyance.
"What do you mean 'it's obvious'? Are you some kind of expert on reading people's gazes? Maybe you should quit boxing and become an eye-gaze guru instead!"
Jun chuckled and rubbed his leg where Landon had kicked him. "Ah, calm down, babe... I just know Yohan well enough to recognize the look in his eyes."
"You're jumping to conclusions," Landon said, his voice laced with worry. "What if you're wrong? What if leaving Yohan with that person actually puts him in danger? You know what Yohan is going through now..."
Jun understood the concern etched on Landon's face and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Actually," Jun replied softly, pulling away slightly, "If you ever meet that guy... I think you'd probably feel exactly the same way I do."
Landon stared at him, brow furrowed in confusion.
"...?"
Yohan's eyes met Landon's, his expression a mix of awkwardness and shyness. "I didn't know him for a short time... I've known this man for years, liked him for a few years too."
As Landon's grip on his shoulders relaxed, Yohan exhaled in relief.
Jun's hand shot out, connecting with Landon's forehead with a sharp flick. "You idiot!" he exclaimed. "Did you forget what Yohan said about regressing? I figured it meant he knew that guy from his past life."
A mischievous grin spread across Jun's face as he watched Landon rub his throbbing forehead.
"It seems like you still think regression is just some fantasy," Jun continued, his tone teasing yet insightful. "That's why you avoid talking about it and refuse to connect it to anything real."
Landon remained silent, unable to argue against Jun's astute observations. He wasn't doubting Yohan; it was more that the concept of regression felt so surreal – something straight out of a movie or novel rather than reality. It took time for such an extraordinary idea to sink in fully, and he was still grappling with it.
Yohan watched Jun with admiration. He had always been impressed by Jun's sharp intellect, his ability to analyze situations quickly, and his uncanny intuition for danger. Yohan yearned for that kind of confidence and composure; perhaps if he were more like Jun, Kian would like him even more!
"Oh, for your information," Yohan said, feeling the weight of the revelation. "That man was my brother-in-law in my past life."
Jun and Landon's jaws dropped simultaneously. "What?!" they exclaimed in unison. The news hit them like a tidal wave, washing away any lingering doubts about Kane's earlier ramblings about a love triangle involving Yohan, Kane, and his mysterious brother. It had seemed like an outlandish story at the time – pure drama – but now it was undeniably true!
"So he's Kane's brother..." Jun muttered thoughtfully as he rubbed his chin. Landon crossed his arms over his chest, fixing Yohan with a curious stare.
"I want to meet him," Landon declared abruptly.
Yohan felt a wave of awkwardness wash over him. It was like he was about to introduce his boyfriend to his parents – the thought left him speechless.
"He's only in this city for a while," Yohan stammered, regaining his composure slightly. "I'll try to ask if he's available these few days."
Landon raised a hand as if to stop him mid-sentence.
"Wait," he interjected, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "So what's the relationship between you two? You even kissed! How can your relationship develop so quickly after just meeting in short time? Don't tell me... he's regressing too…"
Yohan rubbing his nose awkwardly under their intense gazes - seeing this reaction confirmed their suspicion.
"Seriously?!"
Landon gasped incredulously. Even Jun was staring at him with open mouthed astonishment now.
Yohan sighed, gazing at the clock on the wall as it was almost midnight. "No... It's not like that... actually, I have a lot to talk about today." The weight of his words hung in the air as Jun and Landon exchanged curious glances.
"Are you two okay talking about this now?" Yohan asked, his eyes pleading for understanding.
"Can we get some coffee?" Jun suggested, and Landon sprang into action, retrieving cans of coffee from Yohan's fridge as if it were his own home. He plopped down beside Jun on the couch, handing out the drinks with a smile.
As they sipped their coffee, Yohan began to recount his encounter with Kian earlier. He didn't shy away from mentioning their kiss but glossed over the details. Landon raised an eyebrow at what felt like an overwhelming amount of information, but he listened intently.
The mood shifted dramatically when Yohan described the stalker and his astonishing feat of overpowering six professional bodyguards. Jun and Landon's faces hardened with concern as they absorbed every word. A heavy silence settled over them until Yohan finished his story, leaving them both deep in thought.
Finally, Landon broke the silence with a mix of humor and seriousness. "Hey, I agree with Kian – you need serious protection right now." He paused for effect before adding playfully, "Plus five points to him for thinking about your safety!"
"Yeay...?"
Yohan offered a weak clap in response, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere surrounding their conversation about the stalker.
Landon turned to Jun, surprised by his boyfriend's uncharacteristic silence. "What are you thinking about?" he asked softly.
Jun remained lost in thought for a moment before shaking his head slowly. "I can't seem to concentrate right now," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Let's talk again after we sleep."
Jun is not the type to stay up late, and it was clear that he was fighting off his sleepiness. Landon and Yohan exchanged understanding glances and nodded in agreement. With a gentle wave goodbye, Landon and Jun left Yohan's room, their minds still reeling from the evening's revelations.
Yohan yawned widely as he watched them depart, then headed towards the bathroom with weary steps, ready to finally drift off into slumber after such an eventful night.
*
*
*
Within the hospital's sterile corridors, a towering figure masqueraded as a caregiver for an elderly woman who appeared to be suffering from a stroke. The elderly woman, in reality a stranger, was merely a disguise to conceal his true identity. As he glided through the hallway, his gaze locked onto the closed door where Kian, Nathan, and the injured bodyguards lay within.
A dangerous glint flashed in his cold eyes. His cell phone vibrated against his thigh; with one hand still gripping the wheelchair handle – an effortless feat despite its weight – he fished out his phone and answered it discreetly before retreating to a more secluded area while keeping an eye on the room where Kian was.
The tall figure listened intently to the voice on the other end of the line before responding.
"I apologize, boss. Target and Kian Xu detected my presence earlier. Kian Xu's bodyguards attempted to apprehend me along with law enforcement, but I managed to evade capture without leaving a trace."
Nodding silently, though unseen by the caller's gaze, he concluded his conversation.
"Fine," came the curt reply. "I won't pursue target for two days."
The figure's eyes hardened further as he ended the call. His gaze returned to Kian's room, burning with hatred and a simmering intent. As an exhausted-looking male doctor passed by, his lips curled into a predatory grin. He followed him silently, pushing the wheelchair like an ominous shadow in tow.
*
*
*
*
Mini Theater
Yohan: "I actually knew Kian had feelings from his past because the look in his eyes seemed to have deep feelings for me, just like the look he had back then..."
Landon: "!!!!!!!"
What the hell??? Is everyone around me an eye-reading expert???