Mia pulled out an old photo, handing it to him. It showed Callistus in middle school, smiling and hugging another boy who looked remarkably like Ivan.
"Where did you get this?" Callistus asked, staring at the photo. "Why am I in it? And who's this?"
"Who does he look like?"
Callistus squinted at the image. "Ivan, but that doesn't make sense. I only met him when I started working at the company."
Mia shook her head. "Think about that feeling you always talk about—like you've known him forever. That's because you have." She pulled out more photos, each one showing Callistus with the same boy.
Callistus took a deep breath, absorbing what she was saying. "It's Ivan, isn't it?"
Mia nodded. "It's always been him. You two were inseparable back then. You played basketball with Kang and the others, and spent nearly every day together. But then, Star and Ivan moved away."
"Moved where?" Callistus asked.
"Out of state," Mia said. "Before he came back to find you."
Callistus stared at the photos in disbelief, his mind struggling to process everything Mia had just revealed.
"We were friends?" Callistus repeated, his voice tinged with a mix of wonder and sadness.
Mia nodded. "Not just friends, Cal. You two were practically inseparable. You shared everything, but when Ivan's family moved out of state, it all got lost. Then, after your accident…"
Callistus felt a lump in his throat. He had always wondered why certain things felt so familiar with Ivan, why there was a strange comfort and connection he couldn't explain. But to know that Ivan had been a part of his life for so long, and he couldn't even remember.
"Why didn't he tell me?" Callistus asked, his voice breaking slightly.
Mia sighed, leaning against the desk. "Maybe he thought it was better to let you remember on your own. Or maybe he was afraid it would be too much for you to handle. He's always been protective of you, even back then."
Callistus looked down at the photos again, focusing on Ivan's face. In every picture, Ivan's eyes were on him, filled with an emotion Callistus hadn't noticed before. It was as if Ivan had been carrying a secret all this time, waiting for Callistus to uncover it.
"He came back to find me," Callistus whispered, more to himself than to Mia.
"Yeah," Mia said softly. "And now, you've found him too."
—
"Recover well, bro," Akmal said as Ivan stepped out of the car.
He walked into the house, the quiet and darkness greeting him as Akmal drove away into the late night. He noticed someone slumped on the couch, head hanging low like they were asleep. Stepping closer, Ivan saw that it was Mia, passed out on the couch.
He briefly remembered the car parked on his porch but decided to let her rest. Ivan then quietly made his way upstairs to his and Callistus's room. The door was closed, the lights were off, and the air conditioner kept the room cold.
Callistus lay in bed, sound asleep with his back facing the door. Ivan smiled at the sight. Both of them were safe now, and CloudWave would never bother them again. He walked over quietly, not wanting to wake his lover.
"Cal," Ivan whispered, gently brushing Callistus's hair with his hand.
Callistus woke up instantly at the sound of Ivan's voice—the voice that had always made him feel safe, the voice he feared he might never hear again.
Ivan smiled down at him. "Didn't think you'd be awake at this time."
Without a second thought, Callistus jumped into Ivan's arms. "You're alive," he whispered in relief.
"I will always come back to you, no matter what," Ivan promised, holding him close.
They stayed like that for a while, just holding each other in the quiet of their room. The fear and tension slowly melted away, replaced by a sense of calm and relief.
"Come on, let's get some rest," Ivan said softly, guiding Callistus back to bed. They lay down together, Ivan wrapping an arm around Callistus, pulling him close.
They drifted off to sleep, the darkness of the night felt a little less daunting, knowing they had each other.
—
The money was all returned to Ryan as soon as the morning sun rose, ending the deal.
"You're all up early for no reason," Mia said, yawning as she prepared to head home.
Ivan and Callistus laughed, enjoying their time together. Later, they went out for ice cream, the autumn breeze adding to the lightness of the day.
As they strolled past shops, Callistus suddenly asked, "Have you met your old friend?"
"Why the sudden question?" Ivan looked at him curiously.
Callistus pulled out the picture Mia had given him. "It was me, wasn't it?"
Ivan was a bit surprised. "You remember? You remember me?"
"Nah," Callistus shook his head. "Mia told me. I just had to connect the dots."
Ivan smiled and playfully patted Callistus's head. "For once, you're using that brain of yours."
—
As night fell, Ivan brought out a bottle of wine, bored and looking to have some fun.
"Why did you date her?" Ivan asked, his face a bit flushed from the alcohol.
"It was a dare, and she got obsessed with me," Callistus replied, more drunk than Ivan. "It's not problem my."
"Do your parents know about us?" Ivan asked next.
Callistus nodded, his eyes closed as he lay on the sofa. "They're happy I have you because they already know you." He groaned. "I want to sleep."
Ivan, feeling drowsy too, lay down on the couch with the lights half-off. He put his hands behind his head, closing his eyes to drift off. Minutes passed, but he couldn't sleep.
Suddenly, something landed on him. He opened his eyes to find a very drunk Callistus sitting on top of him.
Ivan was surprised and said "Woah callistus I didn't know you were gay to that extent!"
Callistus giggled, his cheeks flushed as he leaned closer to Ivan, their faces just inches apart. "Maybe I'm full of surprises," he slurred, barely coherent.
Ivan could feel the warmth radiating from Callistus and couldn't help but smile at how adorable and unpredictable he was when drunk.
"You're definitely something," Ivan chuckled, trying to keep the mood light.
But as Callistus shifted, Ivan felt a spark of something more intense. Callistus's hands rested on Ivan's chest, warm and soft. Ivan's heart raced, caught off guard by the sudden closeness.
Still laughing softly, Callistus leaned in, his lips brushing against Ivan's ear as he whispered, "I think I like you… more than I thought." The slurred words were sincere, sending a shiver down Ivan's spine.
Ivan looked up at Callistus, their eyes meeting in the dim light. For a moment, it felt like they were the only ones in the world. The playful tension shifted into something deeper, something that had been building between them.
""Callistus…" Ivan murmured, his voice soft as he reached up to gently cradle Callistus's face in his hands. He hesitated, searching Callistus's eyes for any sign of uncertainty, but all he saw was the same mix of affection and desire that he felt.
Without overthinking, Ivan pulled Callistus down, their lips meeting in a tender, passionate kiss. It started soft, almost hesitant, but then Callistus responded, wrapping his arms around Ivan's neck, deepening the kiss.
The taste of wine lingered on their lips as they kissed, the world fading away until it was just the two of them lost in the moment. Ivan's hands moved down to Callistus's waist, pulling him closer as their bodies pressed together, the heat between them intensifying.
Callistus broke the kiss, breathing heavily as he rested his forehead against Ivan's. "This is so much better than sleeping," he whispered with a sleepy smile, his eyes half-closed.
Ivan chuckled, his fingers tracing circles on Callistus's back. "You're not wrong," he replied, his voice filled with affection.
They stayed like that, holding each other in the quiet room. As the night grew late and the alcohol began to wear off, neither was in a rush to move.
"Stay here," Callistus mumbled, drowsy as he nestled closer to Ivan.
"I'm not going anywhere," Ivan whispered, holding him tightly. Eventually drifted off to sleep, tangled together on the couch.
—
"Are you really going to let them get away with this?" Ryan glanced at Valentina.
"Why would I?" she shouted, her anger boiling over.
"Don't worry," Ryan said with a cold smile. "If we can't get Chase, we'll go after who caused this instead. His lover."