Axel's question caught Yohan off guard, leaving him momentarily stunned. But then again, Axel had always been one of those enigmatic figures that were impossible to read even in his past life.
To Yohan, Axel was an unpredictable character with mood swings that often changed more than Kane's. Sometimes he could be friendly and fun, while other times he would become sarcastic and distant - ignoring Yohan when he tried to engage him in conversation. In comparison, Tao may have been annoyingly childish at times but at least he was predictable in his bluntness.
Yohan could sense that Axel was eagerly awaiting his response, his eyes boring into Yohan's as if he were trying to decipher every thought racing through his mind. Meanwhile, his fingers idly traced the intricate patterns etched onto an antique bracelet on his wrist - a piece of jewelry that Yohan had overheard being discussed in their group conversation.
Apparently, it was a treasured heirloom gifted by Axel's grandfather, signifying their prestigious lineage. Yohan couldn't help but find such trinkets peculiar. It seemed like wealthy families always clung onto strange symbols or tokens to affirm their status and familial ties.
Not wanting any more questions from Axel, so he stepped out from behind Landon and walked forward. But Landon grabbed his wrist to stop him in his tracks.
"I don't know you, so I have no reason not to hide and smile back," Yohan answered bluntly without looking at Axel directly. Instead, he turned towards Landon and smiled while mouthing 'it's okay' silently.
Axel raised his eyebrows and chuckled as he looked at Kane.
"Your prospective boyfriend looks gentle, but he's actually fierce, huh?" Axel commented with amusement.
Kane grinned in response as he removed Tao's arm from around his neck. "That's what makes him attractive, isn't it?"
Tao snorted dismissively. "His face is my type, but his personality? Not so much."
Kane regarded Tao with a sly grin, his tone betraying an icy coldness that made Tao shiver involuntarily. "I know you're not fond of him right now. But what if he happened to have the personality that suits your taste, would you try to steal him away from me?"
Out of all of them, Tao was known as a playboy who loved nothing more than changing lovers like clothes and stealing other people's partners as if it were a game.
Tao shook his head so vigorously it seemed as though he wanted to shake off Kane's words. "No way, dude! Absolutely not! Even if he embodied everything I ever wanted in a person... I would never try to steal someone who means so much to you!"
Axel couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh. "Why on earth did you tell Kane that Yohan's face is your type? That was not the smartest move," Axel whispered to Tao, baffled by his friend's lack of tact.
Tao grumbled to himself before speaking softly, "I never thought Kane could be this jealous over someone..."
Axel continued fiddling with the bracelet on his wrist, amused by the situation. It seemed that Kane was far more jealous than anyone had anticipated. In an attempt to diffuse the tension and take some of the pressure off Tao, Axel decided to change the subject.
"Speaking of fate, isn't it amazing how things work out sometimes?" he quipped playfully. "Kane managed to stumble upon Yohan just by chance after asking us for help finding him."
Unfortunately, Axel's attempt at diffusing the tension only served to worsen it.
Jun's brows furrowed as he looked at Kane with cold eyes. "You were looking for Yohan before?" he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.
Kane didn't back down, meeting Jun's gaze with a challenging look. "So what? I told you I'm his lover, so it's none of your business," he replied defiantly.
But Jun scoffed at Kane's words, giving him a condescending look. "Strange," he began sarcastically. "From the moment you and Yohan talked, Yohan has rejected you many times yet you're the one who aggressively thinks that you two have a relationship."
"Are you delusional because you can't accept being rejected by someone?" Jun continued in a tone laced with contempt.
Kane's hand tightened around his own neck as he tried to keep his composure. He looked calm on the outside, but inside, he was seething with anger.
"You really know how to make me mad, huh?"
Kane stepped closer to Jun until they were standing face-to-face; both men staring each other down like they wanted to kill each other. At over 190 cm tall each, their physical presence was imposing enough to make anyone feel intimidated. It seemed like a full-blooded fight was about to break out.
Feeling uneasy, Yohan who had been standing behind Jun with Landon quickly ran and slipped into the middle of their confrontation. "Hey, let's all calm down!" he exclaimed, hoping to diffuse the tension between Kane and Jun before things got any worse.
Landon moved up beside Yohan in support while keeping a watchful eye on Kane and his friends. He gently took Jun's hand, trying to diffuse his boyfriend's anger and prevent a potential fight. Yohan, meanwhile, crossed his arms in front of his chest and gave Kane a stern look.
"If you're going to start a fight, I'll cancel our private meeting. Don't expect me to see you if that happens," warned Yohan firmly.
Kane still looked furious as he snorted and ruffled his own hair in frustration. He shot another murderous look towards Jun before finally sighing in surrender. Looking directly at Yohan, he spoke seriously. "I hope you don't break your promise."
Yohan thought about it for a moment before making up his mind. Since meeting Kane, he realized there were many things they needed to discuss. It was better not to avoid him anymore and have a conversation about their issues.
"Don't worry, I'll keep my promise," Yohan reassured Kane with a firm nod.
Kane visibly relaxed and even gave a smug look to Landon and Jun. The two of them couldn't help but imagine burying Kane alive in the middle of the mountain as they exchanged glances.
*
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*
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Mini drama:
That night, in their bedroom.
Landon: "Later when the two of them will meet, let's follow Yohan secretly from behind."
Jun: "What do you want to do....?"
Landon: smiling brightly "Of course before that annoying guy meets Yohan, we catch him first, sedate him, then tie him up with a rope and cover his head with a sack. Actually I'd like to throw him into the middle of the sea but unfortunately that would be a criminal act... so let's take him to the mountain and bury him at midnight..."
Jun: "..."
Jun: "Actually babe... from the moment you caught him, you committed a crime..."