Zack fidgeted with the cuffs of his shirt, his nerves prickling as he stood backstage at the gala.
The hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses filtered in from the ballroom, where Kieran was already charming the crowd like the star he was.
Zack had been standing there for too long, debating whether he should join him.
Part of him wanted to hide away, to avoid the carefully curated chaos of their public life. But he knew he couldn't stay in the shadows forever.
Taking a deep breath, Zack stepped out into the ballroom.
It was a dazzling scene—glittering chandeliers, sleek suits, and elegant gowns.
Zack scanned the room, spotting Kieran almost immediately.
He was standing near the bar, a small crowd gathered around him as he laughed and gestured animatedly.
Kieran caught Zack's eye from across the room, his smile softening into something more personal.
He nodded subtly, as if to say, Come here.
Zack hesitated, his heart skipping a beat.
I shouldn't be this nervous. It's not like this is the first event we've done together.
But after what he said… after everything… how am I supposed to act normal around him?
By the time Zack made it to Kieran's side, the crowd around him had begun to disperse. Kieran turned to face him fully, his smile widening.
"There you are," Kieran said, his voice low enough that only Zack could hear. "I was starting to think you'd disappeared."
"Just… needed a minute," Zack replied, avoiding Kieran's gaze.
Kieran studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Zack lied, forcing a smile. "I'm fine."
But he wasn't fine. Not even close.
Stop looking at me like that.
Like you can see right through me.
Before Kieran could press further, a woman approached them, her smile polished and professional.
"Kieran, darling," she said, her tone dripping with charm. "It's been ages. And who's this?"
"This is Zack," Kieran said smoothly, his hand resting lightly on Zack's back. "My boyfriend."
Zack froze, the word hanging in the air like a challenge.
The woman raised an eyebrow, her smile sharpening. "Boyfriend, huh? Well, aren't you full of surprises."
Kieran laughed lightly, steering the conversation away, but Zack couldn't shake the knot in his stomach.
The word shouldn't have bothered him—it was part of the act, after all.
So why did it feel so real?
The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Zack followed Kieran from conversation to conversation, nodding and smiling when necessary but feeling increasingly out of place.
At one point, he excused himself and slipped out onto the balcony, desperate for some air.
The night was cool and quiet, a stark contrast to the noise inside.
Zack leaned against the railing, staring out at the city lights below.
He heard footsteps behind him and knew who it was before they spoke.
"You okay?" Kieran asked, his voice soft.
Zack sighed, not turning around. "Do you ever get tired of it?"
"Tired of what?"
"Pretending," Zack said, finally facing him. "Being what everyone expects you to be."
Kieran's expression softened, a flicker of vulnerability passing over his face. "All the time."
Their eyes met, the air between them charged with unspoken words.
I should say something. Anything.
But I don't even know what I'm feeling right now, let alone how to explain it.
Before either of them could speak, the sound of someone clearing their throat broke the moment.
Zack turned to see Alicia standing in the doorway, her arms crossed.
"Sorry to interrupt," she said, though her tone suggested otherwise. "But I need to borrow Zack for a minute."
Kieran hesitated, his gaze lingering on Zack. "Sure. I'll see you inside."
As Kieran walked away, Alicia gestured for Zack to follow her.
They moved to a quieter corner of the balcony, where Alicia turned to face him, her expression serious.
"Care to explain what's going on?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Zack replied, feigning innocence.
Alicia rolled her eyes. "Don't play dumb. I've been doing this long enough to know when a client is getting in over their head. And right now, Kieran is in way over his head."
Zack frowned, her words catching him off guard. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about you," Alicia said bluntly. "And whatever… this is between you two."
"There's nothing—"
"Don't," Alicia interrupted, her voice sharp. "I've seen the way he looks at you, Zack. And I've seen the way you look at him. You're not just playing a part anymore."
Zack opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out.
She's wrong. She has to be wrong.
But then why does it feel like something more?
Alicia sighed, her tone softening. "Look, I get it. Kieran's easy to fall for. But you need to figure out what you want, Zack.
Because if you're not careful, someone's going to get hurt."
Zack stared at her, his mind racing. He wanted to argue, to tell her she didn't understand, but deep down, he knew she was right.
"I'll think about it," Zack said finally.
"Good," Alicia said, her expression unreadable. "For both your sakes, I hope you do."
With that, she walked away, leaving Zack alone with his thoughts.
What do I want?
Do I want this?
Do I want… him?
Zack stayed on the balcony for a while, the city lights blurring as he stared into the distance.
When he finally went back inside, Kieran was waiting for him, his expression unreadable.
"You ready to go?" Kieran asked.
Zack nodded, his chest tight. "Yeah. Let's go."
As they left the gala, Zack couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing on the edge of something he couldn't turn back from.