Miles and Kai bumped into each other at the college entrance gate. Kai gave him a knowing look and smirked.
"Hey, Miles… what's up? Feeling any better today?"
Miles rubbed his head gently, wincing. "A little bit of a headache," he mumbled.
Kai chuckled, "You were really drunk last night. You cried a lot and kept saying I'm your only best friend. It was kind of cute, though." He grinned teasingly.
Miles groaned and hid his face in his hands. "Don't remind me…"
But Kai's eyes suddenly narrowed as he noticed something— a faint, reddish mark on Miles' neck. He leaned in, eyes wide.
"You slept with Ethan."
Miles stiffened. "W-What are you talking about? I—That's not—"
"I know you confessed to liking him last night." Kai's tone was calm, but there was curiosity burning in his gaze.
Miles looked away and tried to walk past him. "I don't want to talk about it."
But Kai reached out and grabbed his wrist gently. "Tell me. What did you do last night… and how did it feel?"
Miles stood frozen, his face a mix of embarrassment and emotions.
Miles quickly pulled his hand back. "Kai, let me go. We've got an important class to attend."
Kai raised an eyebrow, not giving up so easily. "You're dodging me."
Miles turned his back and walked toward the entrance. "Let's just go," he muttered.
Kai followed beside him, lips still curved in a playful smirk, though his eyes held curiosity. He was dying to know what had happened between Miles and Ethan, but for now, he let it go.
—
Meanwhile, across campus, Bast sat quietly in his office, reviewing a thick stack of business files. The room was silent until the door creaked open and Ethan walked in.
Bast glanced up. "Well, well… Mr. Loverboy is here," he said with a smirk.
Ethan flopped down in the chair across from him, wearing a poker face. "Says the one playing daddy fantasies. Did you ever tell Kai about your relationship with his mom?"
Bast's playful expression faded. He took a slow breath and leaned back in his chair. "No. Kai doesn't want to talk to me. Every time I try, he looks so uncomfortable. Like he's forcing himself to stay calm."
Ethan frowned. "He still hasn't warmed up to you?"
Bast shook his head. "And now he has a girlfriend."
"What?" Ethan sat up straight, clearly shocked. "You're joking."
"Nope." Bast's tone was dry, but his eyes hinted at conflict. "Her name is Elina."
Ethan muttered under his breath, "This is going to get messy…"
Ethan leaned forward on the desk, voice firmer now. "You need to talk to him."
Bast's eyes didn't meet his. "I know," he said softly, almost like admitting a sin. "I can't let him go like that."
"Then tell him," Ethan urged. "Tell him how you felt when you first saw him. He's not a kid anymore—he'll understand."
Bast stood up slowly, walking toward the tall window. His silhouette looked heavy with memories, with pain he'd buried too long. He stared outside in silence for a moment before speaking, voice hushed but heavy.
"When I first saw him… he was just a ten-year-old boy, standing quietly next to his grandmother at my wedding. So small… so distant. But I couldn't take my eyes off him." Bast's voice broke slightly. "All I wanted… was to get close to him. To know him. And over time, that feeling grew—deeper, stronger. I loved him without even realizing when it happened. But…"
He sighed, resting a hand against the glass.
"He never came close to me. Never called me family. He kept his distance—maybe because he could feel something I didn't know how to explain."
Ethan stayed quiet for a beat, then said quietly, "You still have a chance. He's here. You just need to stop hiding behind guilt and start being honest with him."
Bast nodded slowly, but his gaze never left the glass. "I'm just scared… that when I finally open up, I'll lose him completely."
---